NWR Modernization Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-1482
Sponsor: Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Introduced: 2023-03-09 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Computers and information technology
Emergency communications systems
Internet, web applications, social media
Small business

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-09
text: 

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 expand and enhance the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR), which is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information from the National Weather Service.
 
NOAA must expand coverage of the NWR and ensure its reliability by
 
 
maintaining support for systems that serve areas that lack or have poor quality cellular service;
 
ensuring consistent maintenance of broadcast equipment;
 
strengthening the ability of the NWR to amplify non-weather emergency messages; and
 
acquiring additional transmitters to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, national parks, and recreation areas.
 
 
NOAA must also assess methods for enhancing the NWR, such as broadcasting continuously and in real time and making the NWR compatible with third-party platforms (e.g., websites and mobile applications). Prioritizing recommendations from the assessment, NOAA must further enhance the NWR, including by (1) upgrading telecommunications infrastructure to expedite the transition to internet-based broadcasts, and (2) researching means to transmit NWR signals to remote transmitters or those that do not have internet capabilities.

action_date: 2023-05-16
text: 

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 expand and enhance the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR), which is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information from the National Weather Service.
 
NOAA must expand coverage of the NWR and ensure its reliability by
 
 
maintaining support for systems that serve areas that lack or have poor quality cellular service;
 
ensuring consistent maintenance of broadcast equipment;
 
strengthening the ability of the NWR to amplify non-weather emergency messages; and
 
acquiring additional transmitters to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, national parks, and recreation areas.
 
 
NOAA must also assess methods for enhancing the NWR, such as broadcasting continuously and in real time and making the NWR compatible with third-party platforms (e.g., websites and mobile applications). Prioritizing recommendations from the assessment, NOAA must further enhance the NWR, including by (1) upgrading telecommunications infrastructure to expedite the transition to internet-based broadcasts, and (2) researching means to transmit NWR signals to remote transmitters or those that do not have internet capabilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 40.
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 118-60.
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 118-60.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 0.
action_date: 2023-03-29
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2023-03-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2023-03-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-03-09
text: Introduced in House