diff --git a/awips/dataaccess/PyData.py b/awips/dataaccess/PyData.py
index 1a6e1d6..52f0b28 100644
--- a/awips/dataaccess/PyData.py
+++ b/awips/dataaccess/PyData.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class PyData(IData):
         return self.__time
 
     def getLevel(self):
-        return self.__level
+        return self.__level.decode('utf-8')
 
     def getLocationName(self):
         return self.__locationName
diff --git a/awips/dataaccess/PyGeometryData.py b/awips/dataaccess/PyGeometryData.py
index a2c626a..c7bec79 100644
--- a/awips/dataaccess/PyGeometryData.py
+++ b/awips/dataaccess/PyGeometryData.py
@@ -60,6 +60,6 @@ class PyGeometryData(IGeometryData, PyData.PyData):
         return unit.decode('utf-8')
 
     def getType(self, param):
-        param = param
+        param = param.encode('utf-8')
         type = self.__dataMap[param][1]
-        return type
+        return type.decode('utf-8')
diff --git a/awips/dataaccess/ThriftClientRouter.py b/awips/dataaccess/ThriftClientRouter.py
index 99efaf3..d45f4dc 100644
--- a/awips/dataaccess/ThriftClientRouter.py
+++ b/awips/dataaccess/ThriftClientRouter.py
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ class ThriftClientRouter(object):
         locNamesRequest = GetAvailableLocationNamesRequest()
         locNamesRequest.setRequestParameters(request)
         response = self._client.sendRequest(locNamesRequest)
-        return response
+        return [item.decode('utf8') for item in response]
 
     def getAvailableParameters(self, request):
         paramReq = GetAvailableParametersRequest()