CB radio and encryption
As police departments encrypt their radio communications, CB doesn't fill that gap, but it offers something separate: independent, unencryptable communication that works when cell towers fail and requires no government license.
CB has a track record in disasters. When Hurricane Ida knocked out cell service across Louisiana in 2021, truckers with CB radios kept information moving. During California wildfires that overwhelmed cellular networks, CB-equipped evacuees coordinated on Channel 9. The service dates back fifty years and has outlasted predictions of its death more than once.
For overlanders and off-roaders, CB is the standard because most groups already own one. When you join a trail run or off-road convoy, you'll find CB on Channel 4 or a designated group frequency. No ham license, no GMRS fee, no cell signal required.