FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The way police and fire departments communicate is changing and that means you likely won't be able to use your scanner.

Beginning next month, local public safety agencies will begin to encrypt their signals with the new communications. That means the general public won't be able to monitor city and county radios.

It's a recommendation by the Department of Homeland Security to restrict access to only those who work in public safety.

The new system takes effect Tuesday, February 4.