[phileysmiley]

Bill Proposes Ending Free Weather Data
By Ed Oswald, BetaNews
April 22, 2005, 9:59 AM

The Internet has made weather data more freely accessible to those who want it. Thanks to new policies instituted by the National Weather Service, users can obtain free access to such things as live radar, weather forecasts, and even receive weather on their cell phones. However, a bill introduced last week by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) may end all that.

"NOAA's actions threaten the continued success of the commercial weather industry," Santorum said in a Senate session last week. "It's not an easy prospect for a business to attract advertisers, subscribers, or investors when the government is providing similar products and services for free."

Initial reactions to the legislation have been mixed. Supporters say that the bill will let the National Weather Service focus on its core mission - forecasts and warnings. However, some have criticized the bill as a pander to the commercial weather industry.

Others warn that the bill is unclear as to exactly what would be allowed and what would not, possibly opening the door to abuses of the law. Larry Cosgrove, former television meteorologist and publisher of the WEATHERAmerica Newsletter, says that the law aims to restrict what the weather service can do.

BetaNews
complete article

[b_a88]

This is bull. People knowing what weather is coming is a safety thing. I mean here where we have DISH network we can't get any up to the minute weather information because the local stations we have are in another state, Vermont, that is very disconnected from here in New Hampshire. We had sevear storms coming one tme last summer and we could only get info that the were coming from online. What if a tornado is coming we wouldn't be able to find out if this bill is to pass and become law. We would be sitting ducks. I think this is a safety issue and they shouldn't mess with it.

[phileysmiley]

I don't normally post opinions, let alone political ones, but I am embarassed to say that this man is my US Senator. I won't go into a rant about it but I will tell you that he has brought so much ridicule on the State of Pennsylvania that he is trailing badly in the polls for his re-election. There is a good chance he will be out of office if and when this ever comes up for a vote.