NWR Modernization Act of 2023

To provide guidance for and investment in the upgrade and modernization of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards network, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2023 NWR Modernization Act of 2023 2. Definitions (a) NOAA Weather Radio The term NOAA Weather Radio (b) Under Secretary The term Under Secretary 3. Upgrading existing systems (a) In general The Under Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, upgrade systems of NOAA Weather Radio in use as of the date of the enactment of this Act in order to expand coverage and ensure the reliability of NOAA Weather Radio. (b) Requirements In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall— (1) maintain support for systems described in such subsection that serve areas not covered by or having poor quality cellular service; (2) ensure consistent maintenance and operations monitoring, with timely repairs to equipment and antennas at broadcast transmitter sites; (3) enhance the ability to amplify non-weather emergency messages through NOAA Weather Radio as necessary; and (4) acquire additional transmitters as required to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, units of the National Park System, and National Recreation Areas. 4. Modernization initiative (a) In general The Under Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, modernize NOAA Weather Radio to ensure the capabilities and coverage of NOAA Weather Radio remain valuable to the public. (b) Requirements In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall— (1) upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure of NOAA Weather Radio to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to media that provide an increase in reliability and repairability over copper media; (2) accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System of the National Weather Service, or any relevant successors of the system, in order to implement partial county notifications and alerts; (3) enhance the accessibility and usability of data and feeds of NOAA Weather Radio, with the feedback of the public and user groups; (4) develop options, including satellite backup capability and commercial provider partnerships, for continuity of service provided by NOAA Weather Radio in the event of outages among Weather Forecast Offices; (5) research and develop alternative options, including microwave capabilities, to transmit signals from NOAA Weather Radio to transmitters that are remote or do not have Internet Protocol capability; and (6) transition critical applications to the Integrated Dissemination Program of the National Weather Service, or any relevant successors of the program. (c) Priorities In carrying out subsections (a) and (b), the Under Secretary shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended in the assessment required by subsection (d) in order to maximize the accessibility of NOAA Weather Radio, particularly in remote areas of the United States and areas that are at risk for a lack of access to weather information in the event of an emergency weather event. (d) Assessment (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall complete and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. (2) Considerations and recommendations In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall take into consideration and provide recommendations on— (A) the need for continuous, adequate, and operational real-time broadcasts from NOAA Weather Radio; (B) solicited input on the compatibility of NOAA Weather Radio data with third-party platforms that provide online services, such as websites and mobile device applications, or deliver access to NOAA Weather Radio; (C) existing or new management systems, which promote consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather Radio; (D) the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to aggregate real-time broadcast feeds at one or more central locations; (E) effective coordination between agencies with responsibilities relating to emergencies and natural disasters; (F) the potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio; and (G) improvements of hazardous weather and water event communications to more clearly inform action and increase the likelihood that the public takes such action to prevent the loss of life or property. December 4, 2023 Reported without amendment

Summary: NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2023 or the NWR Modernization Act of 2023 This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) network. (NWR is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcasts weather information 24-7 from the nearest National Weather Service office, including weather warnings, watches, and forecasts.) Specifically, NOAA must update NWR to expand its coverage and support its reliability, particularly in rural and underserved communities, through timely repairs, additional equipment, software upgrades, alternative means of transmissions, and other system changes. NOAA must assess and report on access to the current system to identify potential improvements.