---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 8548"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "8548"
heading: "Weather enterprise outreach"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/8548"
units:
  - "Chapter 111 — Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal Weather Coordination"
---

# §8548. Weather enterprise outreach

- (a) **In general—** The [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) may establish mechanisms for outreach to the [weather enterprise](/usc/15/8501.md?p=5)—
  - (1) to assess the weather forecasts and forecast products provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1); and
  - (2) to determine the highest priority weather forecast needs of the community described in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Outreach community—** In conducting outreach under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) shall contact leading experts and innovators from relevant stakeholders, including the representatives from the following:
  - (1) [State](/usc/15/8501.md?p=2) or local emergency management agencies.
  - (2) [State](/usc/15/8501.md?p=2) agriculture agencies.
  - (3) Indian tribes (as defined in [section 5304 of title 25](/usc/25/5304.md)) and Native Hawaiians (as defined in [section 7517 of title 20](/usc/20/7517.md)).
  - (4) The private aerospace industry.
  - (5) The private earth observing industry.
  - (6) The operational forecasting community.
  - (7) The academic community.
  - (8) Professional societies that focus on meteorology.
  - (9) Such other stakeholder groups as the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) considers appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–25, title IV, § 412, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 113.)