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Bill
Notes

H.R. 5324 — what changed

NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2021

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 4 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2021” or the “NWR Modernization Act of 2021”.

Sec. 2 Definitions

(a)
added Administrator— The term “Administrator” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

removed In this Act:

(b)
changed Administrator—NOAA Weather Radio— The term “Administrator” “NOAA Weather Radio” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Administration Weather Radio All Hazards network.
(2)
removed NOAA weather radio— The term “NOAA Weather Radio” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards network.

Sec. 4 Upgrading existing systems

(a)
changed In General—general— The Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, expand coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its reliability. In doing so, the Administrator shall—
(1)
changed maintain support for existing systems serving areas not covered by cellular service or having poor quality cellular service;
(2)
changed ensure consistent maintenance of, and operations monitoring, with timely repairs to, to broadcast towers transmitter site equipment and antennas; and
(3)
enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary.
(b)
changed Authorization of Appropriations—appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000, $20,000,000 to remain available until expended.
(c)
added Expanding access— As part of the activities in this section, the Administrator shall acquire additional transmitters as required to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, national parks, and recreation areas.

Sec. 5 Modernization initiative

(a)
changed In general— In parallel to the activities under section 4, the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide upgrades to the enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying out these activities, the Administrator shall—
(1)
changed provide upgrades to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to Internet Protocol-based communications over non-copper media;
(2)
changed accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System System, or the relevant system successors, in order to implement partial county notifications and alerts;
(3)
changed consult with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector entities sector, to ensure that enhance accessibility and usability of NOAA Weather Radio data and feeds are easily accessible in a format and manner most beneficial for use by third-party products;feeds;
(4)
changed develop options, including including, but not limited to, satellite backup capability, capability and commercial provider partnerships for NOAA Weather Radio continuity in the event of Weather Forecast Office outages;
(5)
changed research and develop alternative options, including including, but not limited to, microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals to transmitters that are remote or that do not have Internet Protocol IP capability; and
(6)
changed transition critical applications to the Integrated Dissemination Program.Program, or the relevant program successors.
(b)
changed Priority— In carrying out the objectives described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies most capable of making real-time warning information recommended by the assessment in subsection (c), to maximize accessibility, particularly in remote and broadcasts available online.underserved areas of the country.
(c)
Assessment for management and distribution— Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In conducting such an assessment, the Administrator shall take into consideration and provide recommendations on—
(1)
the need for continuous, adequate, and operational real-time broadcasts of the NOAA Weather Radio in both urban and rural areas;
(2)
changed solicited inputs from relevant stakeholders on the availability compatibility of NOAA Weather Radio data for third party platforms that provide online services, such as websites and mobile device applications, that require or deliver NOAA Weather Radio access;
(3)
existing or new management systems, which promote consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather Radio;
(4)
changed the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA to aggregate real time broadcast feeds at one or more central locations;
(5)
changed effective interagency coordination; andcoordination;
(6)
added the potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio; and
(7)
renumbered was (4)(8) any other function the Administrator deems necessary.
(d)
changed Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000, $40,000,000 to remain available until expended.