Title: NWR Modernization Act of 2021
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2021 or the NWR Modernization Act of 2021
This bill provides for the expansion of, and upgrades to, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All Hazards network (NWR).
NOAA shall expand coverage of NWR and ensure its reliability by
NOAA shall provide upgrades to NWR to ensure its capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying out specified objectives for the provision of such upgrades, NOAA must prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies most capable of making real-time warning information and broadcasts available online.
NOAA shall complete an assessment of access to NWR.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5324 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5324

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

                           September 22, 2021

  Mrs. Bice of Oklahoma (for herself and Ms. Sherrill) 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 Representatives 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 2021'' or the ``NWR Modernization Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            (2) NOAA weather radio.--The term ``NOAA Weather Radio'' 
        means the National Oceanic 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 protecting 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.
            (5) NOAA Weather Radio should provide equal access and 
        availability to unimpeded broadcasts of weather and non-weather 
        hazards to every person located 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 serving areas not 
        covered by cellular service or having poor quality cellular 
        service;
            (2) ensure consistent maintenance of, and timely 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 to ensure its capabilities and 
coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying out these 
activities, the Administrator shall--
            (1) provide upgrades to the telecommunications 
        infrastructure to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to 
        Internet Protocol-based communications over non-copper media;
            (2) accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced 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, including 
        microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals 
        to transmitters that are remote or that do not have Internet 
        Protocol capability; and
            (6) transition critical applications to the Integrated 
        Dissemination Program.
    (b) Priority.--In carrying out the objectives described 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 Distribution.--Not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In conducting 
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 Atmospheric 
        Administration to aggregate real time broadcast feeds at one or 
        more central locations;
            (5) effective interagency coordination; and
            (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.
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