NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A move to encrypt NYPD radio transmissions by the end of 2024 -- which is not sitting well with news orgnizations who rely on such transmissions for breaking news, as well as New Yorkers who use the Citizen App to monitor crime and other goings-on in their neighborhoods -- will be debated at a public City Council hearing on Monday, Nov. 20. at 1 p.m. at 250 Broadway, 16th floor in Manhattan.
To register to speak at the hearing or to file a statement with the City Council, click here.
Encrypting NYPD transmission would end transparency that began in 1932. It comes after six NYPD precinct radio frequencies serving northern Brooklyn went dark on July 17. The officers' radios were converted to encrypted channels, shutting news organizations and the public out of police communications.
This means that journalists -- and citizen journalists -- were unable to report or be knowledable about active crime, accidents and other incidents.
News organizations are concerned since the NYPD has said there is "no plan yet" to allow journalists access to the channels. And the more than two million users of the Citizen App would also be shut out.
"We have a history of our radios being used against us," Ruben Beltran, NYPD's Chief of Information Technology said in August.
Mayor Eric Adams echoed that at the time, adding, "Bad guys are looking at this. They can see when we're responding to a crime. They know when it's reported. We have to make sure that we find that proper balance and that's what we're going to do."
Beltran, who led the NYPD's $1.5 billion NYPD radio upgrade beginning in 2020, is scheduled to testify at the hearing, according to amNY.
Having access to NYPD radio frequencies has allowed news organizations to react quickly to countless significant events for decades, including the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the Chelsea bombing, Eric Garner's death and many others.
The NYPD has only gone as far to say it would have "delayed" radio transmissions of up to 30 minutes that would prevent “malevolent” listeners from using their communications to commit crimes.
The aforementioned plan does not sit well with news organizations, so nine of them have joined forces to create the New York Media Consortium -- of which 1010 WINS and WCBS 880 are members -- with the goal of convincing the NYPD to allow real-time access to radio transmissions.
Ben Mevorach, the Vice President of News, New York, for 1010 WINS and WCBS 880's corporate parent Audacy Inc., said, "We absolutely understand and support the NYPD’s need and desire to keep their officers safe but they need to recognize that this issue goes to the very core of freedom of the press, government accountability, and the public’s right to know. We are confident that there is a strategy that will provide all sides with an acceptable solution and we look forward to the city council as the place to resolve our differences."
The media does appear to have an ally in NYC comptroller Brad Lander, though, who has expressed concern over the NYPD's plans.
"NYPD reportedly intends to expand this radio encryption citywide, but has failed to articulate its plans to ensure that the media will maintain access to critical, real time information," he said in a statement to amNY. "This policy change will mean that the NYPD may exclusively control whether a particular newsworthy event reaches the public domain.”
Dan Shelley, president of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Foundation and a member of the New York Media Consortium applauded Lander.
“RTDNA is gratified that Comptroller Lander is taking an interest in ensuring the public’s need to know what’s happening in the neighborhoods of New York City,” he said. “The NYPD motto is ‘Courtesy. Professionalism. Respect.’ The wanton encryption of all NYPD radio transmissions accomplishes none of those things.”
The NYPD, in turn, downplayed the notion that its plan will harm its transparency.
“The safety of our first responders and the community will always remain the NYPD’s top priority," it said in a statement. "The Department works day-in and day-out to be transparent and build trust with the public. We are continuing to explore whether certain media access can be facilitated, including utilizing methods that are already being used in jurisdictions with encrypted radios.”