I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1482 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2023 
Mrs. BICE (for herself, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. MILLER of Ohio, Ms. BONAMICI, 
and Mr. KILMER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘NOAA Weather Radio 
Modernization Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘NWR Modernization 
Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Oceans and Atmosphere and the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion. 
(2) 
NOAA 
WEATHER
RADIO.—The 
term 
‘‘NOAA Weather Radio’’ means the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio 
All Hazards network. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide 
network of transmitters that are critical to pro-
tecting life and property by broadcasting weather 
and other hazard alerts. 
(2) NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts currently 
reach 95 percent of the United States population. 
(3) NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts originate 
from all National Weather Service Offices, but are 
only available via a receiver located in sufficient 
proximity to a radio transmitting tower. 
(4) There are limited options to obtain NOAA 
Weather Radio broadcasts via the Internet or mobile 
device application, which are provided by volunteer 
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mechanisms obtaining the audio feed in an ad hoc 
manner. 
(5) NOAA Weather Radio should provide equal 
access and availability to unimpeded broadcasts of 
weather and non-weather hazards to every person lo-
cated within the United States, its territories, and 
Tribal lands. 
SEC. 4. UPGRADING EXISTING SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, expand coverage of the 
NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its reliability. In car-
rying out this subsection, the Administrator shall— 
(1) maintain support for existing systems serv-
ing areas not covered by or having poor quality cel-
lular service; 
(2) ensure consistent maintenance and oper-
ations monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast 
transmitter site equipment and antennas; and 
(3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather 
Emergency Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as 
necessary. 
(b) EXPANDING ACCESS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall acquire additional transmit-
ters as required to expand coverage to rural and under-
served communities, national parks, and recreation areas. 
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SEC. 5. MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In parallel to the activities under 
section 4, the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its 
capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In 
carrying out this section, the Administrator shall— 
(1) upgrade telecommunications infrastructure 
to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to internet 
protocol-based 
communications 
over 
noncopper 
media; 
(2) accelerate software upgrades to the Ad-
vanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or 
the relevant system successors, to implement partial 
county notifications and alerts; 
(3) consult with relevant stakeholders, including 
the private sector, to enhance accessibility and 
usability of NOAA Weather Radio data and feeds; 
(4) develop options, including satellite backup 
capability and commercial provider partnerships, for 
NOAA Weather Radio continuity in the event of 
Weather Forecast Office outages; 
(5) research and develop alternative options, in-
cluding microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA 
Weather Radio signals to transmitters that are re-
mote or do not have internet protocol capability; and 
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(6) transition critical applications to the Inte-
grated Dissemination Program, or the relevant pro-
gram successors. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and 
technologies recommended in accordance with the assess-
ment under subsection (c) to maximize accessibility, par-
ticularly in remote and underserved areas of the country. 
(c) ASSESSMENT FOR MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBU-
TION.—Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall complete 
an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In con-
ducting such assessment, the Administrator shall take into 
consideration and provide recommendations on the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The need for continuous, adequate, and 
operational real-time broadcasts of the NOAA 
Weather Radio in both urban and rural areas. 
(2) Solicited inputs from relevant stakeholders 
on the compatibility of NOAA Weather Radio data 
for third party platforms that provide online serv-
ices, such as websites and mobile device applications, 
or deliver NOAA Weather Radio access. 
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