146 
ucts are used by emergency managers, govern-
ments, and other users to benefit the public and 
stakeholder groups; 
‘‘(C) how past experiences with hurricanes 
impacts decision making; 
‘‘(D) how the source of such hurricane 
forecasts and warnings affects interpretation; 
‘‘(E) how tropical cyclone warnings and 
watches are received and interpreted; 
‘‘(F) how understanding of and response 
to such hurricane forecasts and warnings vary 
across demographic groups, including the elder-
ly, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable 
populations; 
‘‘(G) language barriers; and 
‘‘(H) how understanding and response to 
such hurricane forecasts and warnings varies 
across geographic areas, including rural, urban, 
and suburban areas; 
‘‘(2) identify communication data gaps based on 
the review conducted pursuant to paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) carry out research, including data collec-
tion and baseline assessments, in coordination with 
the hurricane forecast improvement program under 
section 104 to evaluate and quantify the economic 
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value of extending lead times of tropical cyclone and 
hurricane warnings and watches, including identi-
fying the most effected or vulnerable populations 
and potential impacts to those populations; 
‘‘(4) as part of post-storm surveys and assess-
ments conducted under section 406 of the Weather 
Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, conduct retrospec-
tive or ex ante assessments of previous hurricane 
forecasts and warnings with improvements to better 
understand the key components, including expected 
actions or behavior changes, of the value of the fore-
casts and warnings provided; 
‘‘(5) conduct cost benefit analysis of forecasts 
and warnings improvement alternatives developed 
through the hurricane forecast improvement pro-
gram under section 104; and 
‘‘(6) conduct risk assessments for pre-, during, 
and post-storm periods in regions and communities 
with significant elderly populations, including retire-
ment communities.’’. 
SEC. 404. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS 
IMPROVEMENT. 
(a) IMPROVEMENT OF NWS INSTANT MESSAGING 
SERVICE.—The Director of the National Weather Service 
shall improve the instant messaging service used by per-
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sonnel of the National Weather Service by implementing, 
not later than October 1, 2027, a commercial off-the-shelf 
communications solution that replaces the instant mes-
saging service commonly referred to as ‘‘NWSChat’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The communications solution 
implemented under this section shall— 
(1) be hosted on the public cloud; and 
(2) satisfy requirements set forth by the Direc-
tor to ensure such solution— 
(A) best accommodates future growth; 
(B) performs successfully with increased 
numbers of users; 
(C) is easy to use for the majority of users; 
and 
(D) is similar to systems already in com-
mercial use. 
(c) FUNDING.—From amounts made available for 
Operations, Research, and Facilities, the Director of the 
National Weather Service shall allocate up to $3,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 405. NOAA WEATHER RADIO MODERNIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, expand coverage of the 
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NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its reliability. In car-
rying out this subsection, the Under Secretary 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; 
(3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather 
Emergency Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as 
necessary; and 
(4) acquire additional transmitters as required 
to expand coverage to rural and underserved com-
munities, units of the National Park System, and 
National Recreation Areas. 
(b) MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE.—To the maximum 
extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall enhance 
NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its capabilities and cov-
erage remain valuable to the public. In carrying out this 
section, the Under Secretary shall— 
(1) upgrade telecommunications infrastructure 
of NOAA Weather Radio to accelerate the transition 
of broadcasts to internet protocol-based communica-
tions over non-copper media; 
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(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 
(6) transition critical applications to the Inte-
grated Dissemination Program, or the relevant pro-
gram successors. 
(c) PRIORITY.—In carrying out subsection (b), the 
Under Secretary shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and 
technologies recommended in accordance with the assess-
ment under subsection (d) to maximize accessibility, par-
ticularly in remote and underserved areas of the United 
States. 
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