(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(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 
mechanisms obtaining the audio feed in an ad hoc 
manner. 
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(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 doing 
so, the Administrator shall— 
(1) maintain support for existing systems serv-
ing areas not covered by cellular service or having 
poor quality cellular service; 
(2) ensure consistent maintenance of, and time-
ly repairs to, broadcast towers and antennas; and 
(3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather 
Emergency Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as 
necessary. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 5. MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In parallel to the activities under 
section 4, the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, provide upgrades to the NOAA Weather Radio 
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to ensure its capabilities and coverage remain valuable to 
the public. In carrying out these activities, the Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) provide upgrades to the telecommunications 
infrastructure to accelerate the transition of broad-
casts to Internet Protocol-based communications 
over non-copper media; 
(2) accelerate software upgrades to the Ad-
vanced Weather Interactive Processing System in 
order to implement partial county notifications and 
alerts; 
(3) consult with private sector entities to ensure 
that NOAA Weather Radio data and feeds are easily 
accessible in a format and manner most beneficial 
for use by third-party products; 
(4) develop options, including satellite backup 
capability, 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 that do not have Internet Protocol capa-
bility; and 
(6) transition critical applications to the Inte-
grated Dissemination Program. 
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(b) PRIORITY.—In carrying out the objectives de-
scribed in subsection (a), the Administrator shall prioritize 
practices, capabilities, and technologies most capable of 
making real-time warning information and broadcasts 
available online. 
(c) ASSESSMENT FOR MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBU-
TION.—Not later than 12 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall complete an as-
sessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In con-
ducting 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) the availability of online services, such as 
websites and mobile device applications, that require 
NOAA Weather Radio access; 
(3) existing or new management systems, which 
promote consistent, efficient, and compatible access 
to NOAA Weather Radio; 
(4) the ability of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration to aggregate real time 
broadcast feeds at one or more central locations; 
(5) effective interagency coordination; and 
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(6) any other function the Administrator deems 
necessary. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$40,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
Æ 
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