I've decided to post only because this matter is important to me,
owning a boat and relying heavily on NOAA for my weather information.
I urge everyone to read the bill. it can be located on

http://thomas.loc.gov/
using bill number S.786
Weather Underground also has it available he
http://www.wunderground.com/education/santorum_s786.asp

Also, BoatUS has an article about it:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm


Here are some excerpts:
-Secretary of Commerce shall not provide, or assist other entities in
providing, a product or service (other
than [emergency warnings] ) that is or could be provided by the private
sector unless ...

-Data, information, guidance, forecasts, and warnings [available from
NOAA] shall be issued ... through a set of data portals designed for
volume access by commercial providers of products or services

So, basically, Data as well as forecasts (aka analysis) will be
available from NOAA to commercial providers, but not to the public.

Currently, commercial providers are available, and used by many
including me, which take data from NOAA and other sources and provide
their own forecasts (analysis). I do not have a problem with any of
this, but I _do_ have a problem with making the NOAA information
available _only_ to commercial providers, who then may charge for them.

just my 2 cents.

You left out a few things like:

2d1) Prohibits NWS personnel from disseminating, disclosing or commenting on
any data gathered by the NWS unless a commercial service is unable to
provide it. It also prohibits ANY Federal agency from disclosing to the
public any weather related data that may come into their possession. That
includes the Department of agriculture, FAA and the Navy weather broadcasts.

That means no more web site, no more VHF weather broadcasts, no more Perfect
Paul on SSB, no more NAVTEX, no more SSB we no more free GRIBB files. It
also puts a number of small but specialized services like CaribWX out of
business because they can't afford the T1 line.

If you want any weather information while off shore you buy a $1,000
receiver and pay $600 a year (or more) for a subscription. Your NAVTEX and
wefax receivers will be junk.

2(d2) says that even after the information has been published NWS analysts
cannot make comments or even be interviewed on news broadcasts to discuss
any weather event EVER.

That means that NOAA people can't address cruising clubs or work with boat
show seminars. They can't even defend themselves after the commercial
services get it totally wrong like they did last hear after the NWS gave
them the correct information. If the NWS had not been able to give the
correct forecast for the hurricanes last year and the only forecast
available was from the commercial services the loss of lives and property
would have been much greater.

No matter how you sugar coat it, it still stinks because it is a bull****
bill.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"mickey" wrote in message
oups.com...

I've decided to post only because this matter is important to me,
owning a boat and relying heavily on NOAA for my weather information.
I urge everyone to read the bill. it can be located on

http://thomas.loc.gov/
using bill number S.786
Weather Underground also has it available he
http://www.wunderground.com/education/santorum_s786.asp

Also, BoatUS has an article about it:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm


Here are some excerpts:
-Secretary of Commerce shall not provide, or assist other entities in
providing, a product or service (other
than [emergency warnings] ) that is or could be provided by the private
sector unless ...

-Data, information, guidance, forecasts, and warnings [available from
NOAA] shall be issued ... through a set of data portals designed for
volume access by commercial providers of products or services

So, basically, Data as well as forecasts (aka analysis) will be
available from NOAA to commercial providers, but not to the public.

Currently, commercial providers are available, and used by many
including me, which take data from NOAA and other sources and provide
their own forecasts (analysis). I do not have a problem with any of
this, but I _do_ have a problem with making the NOAA information
available _only_ to commercial providers, who then may charge for them.

just my 2 cents.

"Dave" wrote

Think about it for a minute. Are you paying for these other services now?
Why not? What does your local TV station's forecast cost? Are they in the
business of handing out gifts? Are they losing money and hoping to make it
up on volume?

I'll give you a hint. Think radio, TV and WWW sites.

If you actually believe that,call your local TV station and ask them to
include the 500mb chart in their evening broadcast. Maybe you could tell me
where the 48 hour wind and wave forecast charts are on the Weather Channel's
web site? Do you think maybe that Accuweather will send you a daily GRIBB
file so you can use the routing features of Raychart or MaxSea? Kinda hard
to add popups to a GRIBB file. How much do you suppose they would charge
you for that service?

It is pretty obvious you have never sailed outside your bathtub.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"mickey" wrote in news:1122074020.328211.306630
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:


I've decided to post only because this matter is important to me,
owning a boat and relying heavily on NOAA for my weather information.
I urge everyone to read the bill. it can be located on

http://thomas.loc.gov/
using bill number S.786
Weather Underground also has it available he
http://www.wunderground.com/education/santorum_s786.asp

Also, BoatUS has an article about it:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm

These two web sites provide a much better background than the prior
discussions in this forum did. There was too much name calling and not
enough discussion on the facts. I strongly suggest that people read them
and understand them.

Most importantly make sure that you write your senators. I just did. We
can't let this pass!

-- Geoff

Nomen Nescio ] wrote in
:

Geoff Schultz writes:

mickey wrote:

Weather Underground also has it available he
http://www.wunderground.com/education/santorum_s786.asp

Also, BoatUS has an article about it:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm

These two web sites provide a much better background than
the prior discussions in this forum did. There was too much
name calling and not enough discussion on the facts. I
strongly suggest that people read them and understand them.

Most importantly make sure that you write your senators.
I just did.

Geoff:
This might seem naive, but could you suggest a good letter
form that might be sent to my senators? I don't have the first
idea how to write a letter that they won't just toss.

FWIW, they're both Repugs, and they are probably in the pocket
of the commercial entities that seem to be pushing this bill.

Here's what I just sent:

I am writing about SB 786: "National Weather Services Duties Act of
2005'" which I consider to be absolutely rediculious. This bill would
prohibit the dissemination of weather forecasts and charts by the
National Weather Service to the public. They would still provide this
information to private companies for dissemination for a fee.

I am a cruiser who spends 6-7 months per year in the Caribbean. I, and
the vast majority of other cruisers in the US and elsewhere, rely on
these forecasts by the NWS which are transmitted via VHF, radio faxes
and the Internet. While cruising there are no other sources for this
information with paying for costly new equipment, per minute connection
charges via satellite, and monthly subscription fees to private weather
prediction services. Local weather forecasts do not begin to provide
the level of detail necessary to safely plan passages. The loss of this
service would greatly endanger many people and boats.

I can not fathom why anyone would support this bill, unless they're in
the pocket of some company who would benefit from the NWS being
prohibited from disseminating these forecasts. I strongly suggest that
Senator _____________ vote against this bill.

Thank you for your time regarding this matter.

I've already emailed both of my senators expressing my views on this
bill. One good point to make is how bad congress will look
if/when the media gets a hold of this story. I personally believe that
there are enough pilots, boaters, and individuals who use the NOAA
and NWS sites that they are poking a beehive with a stick from a
very short distance. I'd like to see the media out this story and
then watch the sponsors run for cover!!

Don W.



Geoff Schultz wrote:
"mickey" wrote in news:1122074020.328211.306630
@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:


I've decided to post only because this matter is important to me,
owning a boat and relying heavily on NOAA for my weather information.
I urge everyone to read the bill. it can be located on

http://thomas.loc.gov/
using bill number S.786
Weather Underground also has it available he
http://www.wunderground.com/education/santorum_s786.asp

Also, BoatUS has an article about it:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm


These two web sites provide a much better background than the prior
discussions in this forum did. There was too much name calling and not
enough discussion on the facts. I strongly suggest that people read them
and understand them.

Most importantly make sure that you write your senators. I just did. We
can't let this pass!

-- Geoff

Send them an email. That's what I did and have received replies from both
(probably their staffers). Due to enhanced postal security my Senators have
indicated they prefer email.


"Nomen Nescio" ] wrote in message
...
Geoff Schultz writes:

mickey wrote:

Weather Underground also has it available he
http://www.wunderground.com/education/santorum_s786.asp

Also, BoatUS has an article about it:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/sb786.htm

These two web sites provide a much better background than
the prior discussions in this forum did. There was too much
name calling and not enough discussion on the facts. I
strongly suggest that people read them and understand them.

Most importantly make sure that you write your senators.
I just did.

Geoff:
This might seem naive, but could you suggest a good letter
form that might be sent to my senators? I don't have the first
idea how to write a letter that they won't just toss.

FWIW, they're both Repugs, and they are probably in the pocket
of the commercial entities that seem to be pushing this bill.

We can't let this pass!

Agreed.

---
-
Those who complain about others not being "team players"
are the same ones who never give up the ball.
-----

"Eric Schneider" wrote

Send them an email. That's what I did and have received replies from both
(probably their staffers). Due to enhanced postal security my Senators
have
indicated they prefer email.

I would be interested to know how they responded. Both Georgia Senators
responded with mealy mouthed BS. Either they don't have a clue what the
bill says or they are waiting for instructions from the Republican
leadership.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Don W" wrote

I've already emailed both of my senators expressing my views on this
bill. One good point to make is how bad congress will look
if/when the media gets a hold of this story. I personally believe that
there are enough pilots, boaters, and individuals who use the NOAA
and NWS sites that they are poking a beehive with a stick from a
very short distance. I'd like to see the media out this story and
then watch the sponsors run for cover!!

Unfortunately probably less than 5% of the population cares at all and of
them 80% are to lazy to make their opinions known or consider it a waste of
time because they figure that Congress is bought and paid for anyway..

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

WaIIy wrote:

Wake up.

wake up?
take your own advice and do a little due diligence with respect to your
good ol' boy Blackwell's activities during the last "election" held in
the land of the free. I thought Ohioans stood for the principles of
democracy. Maybe I was wrong.

sheeple