def _read_regpol_file(reg_pol_path):
    '''
    helper function to read a reg policy file and return decoded data
    '''
    returndata = None
    if os.path.exists(reg_pol_path):
        with salt.utils.files.fopen(reg_pol_path, 'rb') as pol_file:
            returndata = pol_file.read()
    return returndata