East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA) Radio Encryption Transition: Timeline and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Subject: Transition to AES 256-bit Encryption for Radio Communications Effective Dates: September 3 & 4, 2025
The East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA) is transitioning primary radio talk groups to AES 256-bit encryption. This change is being made to comply with state and federal mandates regarding the protection of sensitive information and to enhance safety.
Transition Schedule:
• Alameda County Agencies: September 3, 2025, from 0330 to 0530 hours. • Contra Costa County Agencies: September 4, 2025, from 0330 to 0530 hours.
A final list of affected agencies is found at the end of this memo Operational Support During Transition: A radio technician will be available in the communications center during the transition period to assist with the resetting of radio consoles and to address any questions from staff.
Preparation for Personnel: To ensure a smooth transition, all personnel working during these hours are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the location of the encrypted zones on their radios before September 3 or 4. Simulating the process will help ensure operational readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Community and Media Engagement The following information is provided to assist Chiefs and other personnel in responding to inquiries from the public and media.
1. Why are law enforcement agencies moving to radio encryption? This transition is a critical step to ensure compliance with legal and security requirements. Specifically, it addresses:
• State Mandates: The California Department of Justice (DOJ) requires the protection of Criminal Justice Information (CJI) and Personal Identifying Information (PII) during transmission.
• Federal Standards: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy mandates encryption for the transmission of sensitive data.
• Officer Safety: Encrypting primary radio channels prevents individuals with malicious intent from monitoring police activities, including tactical information and officer locations, thereby reducing the risk to officers during dynamic situations.
2. The CA DOJ memo requiring the protection of PII and CJI was issued in 2020. Why is this transition happening now? Since the 2020 DOJ memo, many agencies have implemented interim solutions to protect PII and CJI, such as using back-up channels or in- car computers for data exchange. Some agencies also began using encrypted secondary channels for primary traffic. EBRCSA has worked to develop and implement a system-wide encryption solution to ensure consistent and comprehensive compliance for member agencies.
3. How common is radio encryption among other law enforcement agencies in California? While a precise count is not available, it is EBRCSA’s understanding that most law enforcement agencies in California have already transitioned to or utilize encrypted radio channels for their primary communications, including most Bay Area law enforcement agencies.
4. Are there alternatives to encryption for protecting PII and CJI? While other solutions exist, they do not fully meet the rigorous standards set by the DOJ and FBI, are cost prohibitive to continue long-term or could compromise peace officer safety. The DOJ memo explicitly states that “the transmission of such information must be encrypted. ”
5. How will the media and public learn about in-progress events? Each department will manage such communications based on their specific needs, potentially through social media updates and encouraging all media to contact department dispatch or public information officers for official information.
6. Will the EBRCSA issue a press release about this change? No. EBRCSA is only providing the technical infrastructure for the transition. Public communication needs vary significantly among member agencies, so the EBRCSA will defer all media inquiries to the individual departments for comment.
7. How have other agencies handled public and media communications regarding encryption? For examples of how other agencies have managed this process, please review the following resources:
• City of Los Altos: https://www.losaltosca.gov/404/Radio-Encryption • City of Santa Clara Police Department: https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our- city/departments-g-z/police-department/community/news/police-radio-system
Table 1: Alameda County, September 3
Agency Technician Assigned Time Block
ACSO Jethro 0330
Oakland Justice 0330
Livermore Patricia 0330
Piedmont J.J. 0330
San Leandro John 0330
Pleasanton Phil 0400
Alameda Robert 0400
Albany Matt 0400
Emeryville Brandon 0400
UC Berkeley Randy 0400
Berkeley J.J. 0445
Fremont John 0445
Hayward Justice 0445
Newark Patricia 0445
Oakland Housing Authority Jethro 0445
Table 2: Contra Costa County, September 4
Agency Technician Assigned Time Block
Contra Costa SO Robert 0330
Concord Phil 0330
San Ramon Matt 0330
Antioch Jethro 0400
EBRPD John 0400
Pinole J.J. 0400
Richmond Brandon 0400
Brentwood Phil 0400
Martinez Justice 0445
Pleasant Hill Robert 0445
Walnut Creek Matt 0445