Table of Contents:                                                                                                                                        Page

             1.  Purpose........................................................................................................................................2

             2.  Overview......................................................................................................................................2

             3.  Applicability..................................................................................................................................2

             4.  Authority.......................................................................................................................................2

             5.  Communications Program Objectives.............................................................................................2

             6.  Organizational Responsibilities........................................................................................................3

             7.  Communications Policy...................................................................................................................4

                     7.1 The Public..............................................................................................................................4
                     7.2 State and Local Government Agencies....................................................................................4
                     7.3 Other Federal Agencies..........................................................................................................4
                     7.4 Commercial Users..................................................................................................................5
                     7.5 International Users..................................................................................................................5

             8.  Coordination and Liaison.................................................................................................................5

             9.  Communications Systems.................................................................................................................5

                     9.1  Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS).............................................................6
                     9.2  Facsimile Distribution Systems.................................................................................................6
                     9.3  Radar Data Networks.............................................................................................................7
                     9.4  Advanced Weather Interactive Processing  System for the 1990's (AWIPS).............................7
                     9.5  Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)........................................................................8
                     9.6  NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS).................................................................................8
                     9.7  NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)...............................................................................................8
                     9.8  NOAA Family of Services (FOS)............................................................................................8
                     9.9  International Systems...............................................................................................................9
 

1.             Purpose.  This chapter establishes policy concerning the National Weather Service's (NWS) activity in the design, implementation, and management of the telecommunications systems that comprise the Communications Program.

2.             Overview.  The NWS mission includes the timely collection, processing, and dissemination of weather information to the public through the use of highly reliable, modern information processing and telecommunications systems.  The Office of Systems Operations (OSO) provides staff assistance to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Assistant Administrator for Weather Services for the management and control of these operational telecommunications systems.

3.             Applicability.  This chapter shall serve as guidance to the NWS Headquarters, regional headquarters, and all field installations.  It is also applicable to the relationships which the NWS has with other government agencies, foreign countries, private industry, and individuals who are, directly or indirectly, users of the various systems.

4.             Authority.  The NWS has the statutory responsibility for providing a national meteorological service.  This service consists of:

      a.  reporting the weather and climate of the United States and its possessions;

      b.  issuing forecasts and warnings of weather and flood conditions affecting safety, welfare, and economy; and

      c.  distributing meteorological information in the interests of agriculture and commerce.

5.             Communications Program Objectives.  The Communications Program of the NWS has the following major objectives:

      a.  collecting raw data for use in the National Meteorological Center (NMC), National Centers, and local forecast offices;

      b.  distributing necessary information between NWS offices;

      c.  disseminating NWS data and products to the public and outside users;

      d.  interfacing, where appropriate, with other communications systems, both civil and military, domestic and foreign, for the mutual exchange of data; and

      e.  meeting U.S. responsibilities to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization for international distribution of basic synoptic and operational weather data, including processed data.

6.             Organizational Responsibilities.  This section briefly describes the responsibilities of the NWS Headquarters, regional headquarters, and field offices.

The OSO has responsibility for the overall management of NWS telecommunications programs, which include NWS-owned equipment and equipment and services provided by system contractors and telecommunications carriers.  Within the OSO, the Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch (OSO15) of the Systems Integration Division (OSO1) is responsible for the planning, acquisition, and management of all major data communications networks operated by the NWS.  The Systems Operations Center (OSO2) of the OSO is responsible for the operation of the National Weather Service Telecommunication Gateway (NWSTG), Systems Monitoring and Coordination Center, and Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Operations Maintenance Center (all located in Silver Spring, Maryland), and for providing real-time management and support to all centrally operated NWS networks.

Each regional headquarters office is responsible for coordinating  operational changes or installation problems with the field sites, and forwarding any systematic maintenance or user problems that cannot be resolved at the local or regional level to NWS Headquarters.  Each regional headquarters is also responsible for acquiring and managing any specialized telecommunications facilities needed at local field offices.

The NMC is responsible for acquiring and managing telecommunications facilities needed to support its internal operations, for example, the communications that connect NMC to the National Hurricane Center and the National Severe Storms Forecast Center.

In accordance with predetermined schedules and procedures, the NWS field offices are responsible for the daily operations involving data input to the various telecommunications systems.  They are responsible for monitoring the quality control of the system and for reporting any system outages.

The Office of Meteorology and the Office of Hydrology, in coordination with the regional headquarters, establish the policies regarding the format and content of data products and operational backup procedures.  Any requests to add, delete, or change the official set of products transmitted on any NWS communication circuit shall be governed by the Systems Integration Division NWS Configuration Management Data Review Group (OSO11) using the policies delineated within the appropriate WSOM chapter for that particular system.

7.             Communications Policy.  The mission of the NWS Communications Program is to provide the timely and dependable collection, transmission, and dissemination of weather products to all authorized user elements, including international users.  This dictates the need for coordination of the design of telecommunications systems to ensure that specialized requirements are given due consideration.

Communications policy is based on Federal laws, NOAA directives, U.S. agreements, and interagency memorandums of agreement which may apply between the NWS and other Federal agencies.  The general policies for communications service to user groups are described below.

7.1             The Public.  The primary mission of the NWS is to provide timely preparation and delivery of weather forecasts
and warnings to the public.  In order to meet this mission requirement, the NWS operates some communications systems which provide information directly to the public [e.g., NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)] and operates other communications systems [e.g., NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS)] which deliver information to mass news disseminators (e.g., radio, television, and newspapers) who then relay the information to the public.

7.2             State and Local Government Agencies.  Because of their important role in serving their citizenry, state and local government agencies (especially emergency management agencies) have a need for weather information.  Whenever a "special" communications service is provided to a state or local government agency, a formal agreement regarding the data exchange arrangement is required.

7.3             Other Federal Agencies.  Because of their special mission needs, various Federal agencies may have a need for weather information.  Whenever a "special" communications service is provided to a Federal agency, a formal agreement regarding the data exchange arrangement is required.

7.4             Commercial Users.  The NWS policy regarding providing weather information to commercial organizations (i.e., private users) is to make information available on a "for fee" basis.  The associated fees are based, generally, on the costs to the NWS to make the data available.  It is NWS policy to make available to the private sector only those products that the NWS routinely produces.

7.5             International Users.  The NWS must provide for the requirements of this group in order to meet U.S. requirements for foreign weather data.  Under WMO agreements, the exchange of data internationally is accomplished by global and interregional exchanges.  The cost for this service is usually borne by the country in which the communications facility is located.  Under bilateral arrangements, point-to-point communications links are established to meet the particular requirements of the countries concerned.  Such arrangements usually provide for a reciprocal exchange of data.  Each country usually bears the cost of installation and operation of its own equipment.

8.             Coordination and Liaison.  The OSO telecommunications staff must work closely with Weather Service Headquarters offices, NOAA organizational units, other Federal and local government agencies, and industry to fulfill its obligations.  Liaison with the various divisions of the Office of Systems Development, the Office of Meteorology, the NMC, and the Office of Hydrology is maintained to aid the coordination of NWS programs.  Contact is maintained with industry to obtain knowledge of new commercial equipment and techniques that can increase the capabilities of NWS telecommunications systems.

There have been and will undoubtedly continue to be many cooperative programs with other Federal, state, and local governments.  It is the responsibility of the telecommunications staff to advise NWS management whether proposed agreements are practicable and complete with respect to the telecommunications capabilities and resources available to the NWS.

9.             Communications Systems.  The Communications Program of the NWS supports the collection and distribution of weather information to the NWS, FAA, and DOD, and also provides for the dissemination of weather data and forecasts to external users and the public.

9.1             Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS).  AFOS is the primary internal data distribution network of the NWS.  It is used to interconnect NWS field offices and to distribute centrally produced forecast products (graphics, grid point data, etc.) from the NMC to NWS field offices.  All data forecasts generated at NWS field offices are also carried on this network and are available to all offices on the network.  Any product originating anywhere in the system is available on the AFOS network and can be stored and displayed at any office.  Major AFOS-equipped offices are provided with communications interfaces to NWS dissemination systems.

The AFOS network consists of a nationwide packet data network which interconnects the AFOS data handling computers at over 200 AFOS-equipped NWS offices.  The network consists of four Regional Distribution Circuits (RDC) comprised of approximately 50 dedicated interstate telecommunications circuits which interconnect Weather Service Forecast Offices (WSFO) and National Centers.  The RDCs operate at 4800/9600 bps in a full duplex mode.  Each of the WSFOs provides coverage to Weather Service Offices (WSO) and River Forecast Centers in its area via dedicated State Distribution Circuits (SDC).  In addition to SDC connections, smaller NWS offices, which do not have a full set of AFOS equipment, connect to AFOS WSFOs and WSOs by other dedicated point-to-point circuits referred to as "Remote Terminal to AFOS (RTA) links."

The AFOS system is scheduled to be replaced in the late-1990's by the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System for the 1990's (AWIPS).

9.2             Facsimile Distribution Systems.  The NWS operates several facsimile networks for the dissemination of graphical weather information to NWS offices, FAA offices, DOD offices, and a variety of other governmental and non-governmental users.

The DIFAX system is a point-to-multipoint satellite broadcast system which distributes forecast guidance materials prepared
by the NMC, along with analyses and selected observational data, to NWS, FAA, DOD, and other governmental offices.  In addition, several foreign countries (Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, etc.) are served by the DIFAX data broadcast.  The DIFAX broadcast is operated under contract by a commercial telecommunications vendor and currently serves over 300 government locations.

The AKFAX system utilizes dedicated facilities to distribute NMC and locally generated weather graphic products to NWS, FAA, and DOD users throughout Alaska.  The majority of the information is generated at the NMC, and is transmitted from the NWSTG to Anchorage, Alaska, via satellite.  From Anchorage, the information is further distributed to NWS, FAA, and DOD offices throughout Alaska via terrestrial and satellite facilities.

The HONOFAX system utilizes dedicated facilities to distribute NMC and locally prepared graphic products to NWS, FAA, and DOD users in Hawaii.  Information is transmitted via satellite from the NWSTG to Honolulu, Hawaii, where it is further distributed via terrestrial circuits.

The GOESFAX system distributes satellite imagery provided from the NESDIS to NWS WSFOs located throughout the United States.  The GOES imagery products are distributed via a network of point- to-point landlines.

9.3             Radar Data Networks.  The NWS Radar Program currently encompasses radar observation stations comprised of network radars (WSR-57 and WSR-74S) and local warning radars (WSR-74C, WSR-74S, and WR 100-S).  Many of the NWS radars are equipped with a Radar Remote Weather Display System which provides dial-in access to digitized radar data.  Information is transmitted via a dedicated network of multi-point and point-to-point circuits, supplemented by dial-up lines.  The existing network of radars is being replaced by the NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) system beginning in 1992 and extending through 1995 (estimated).

The NEXRAD system is a network of Doppler radars (WSR-88D), with associated processing and display hardware and software which is used to detect, process, display, and distribute weather radar information to NWS, FAA, and DOD field offices.

Each NEXRAD system will have three major system components:  Radar Data Acquisition (RDA), Radar Product Generator (RPG), and  Principle User Processor (PUP).  It is expected that the NWS will have 116 RDAs and 116 RPGs (plus access to 23 DOD RPGs), as well as approximately 148 PUPs.  NWS offices will have access to all NWS and DOD NEXRAD sites via an integrated NEXRAD data network.  Dissemination of NEXRAD data to the public will be via the NEXRAD Information Distribution Service (NIDS).  NIDS is a commercial arrangement between the NWS and private vendors to provide (on a fee-per-site basis) NEXRAD data which are further disseminated to subscribers to each vendor's service.

9.4             Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System for the 1990's (AWIPS).  The AWIPS and its associated data communications network will replace the AFOS system and network.  AWIPS will be an advanced computer/telecommunications system to help forecasters integrate all sources of weather data at field offices.  AWIPS will aid in the timely preparation and dissemination of warnings and forecasts.  The current schedule calls for the AWIPS system/network to be deployed beginning in 1998.

9.5             Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS).  The ASOS is a consolidated program of the NWS, FAA, and DOD to automate and standardize the collection and reporting of observed weather conditions.

The NWS segment of the ASOS consists of approximately 250 ASOS sites.  Each ASOS includes automated electronic sensor instruments, which will replace manually taken weather observations.  All ASOS sites will interface with the AFOS (and later, AWIPS) system.

9.6             NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS).  The NWWS is a nationwide satellite broadcast system used for the dissemination of severe weather and flood warnings, forecasts, and other information to the mass news media and governmental public safety agencies for relay to the public.  The satellite broadcast system is operated, under contract, by a commercial communications vendor.  Information is transmitted via satellite uplinks at all WSFOs and National Centers and received at the contractor's Network Control Center in Mountain View, California, where it is processed and rebroadcast to over 1300 external users.

9.7             NOAA Weather Radio (NWR).  A network of approximately 380 Very High Frequency/Frequency Modulation (VHF/FM) radio transmitter stations comprise the NWR system.  These stations provide continuous weather, river, and marine information 24 hours a day and are regularly updated by the cognizant NWS office.  A combination of commercial landlines, point-to-point microwave, and UHF radio are utilized to provide communications between the cognizant NWS office and the broadcast site.

9.8             NOAA Family of Services (FOS).  Since 1983, NWS has provided for external-user access to weather information through a collection of data services (called the FOS), which are accessible in the Washington, D.C., area.  The individual data services may be obtained from the NWS upon payment of a one-time connection charge and an annual fee.  Private-sector companies resell data as received and/or provide value-added services for specialized users based on information derived from the FOS.  The FOS includes the following data services:

                  a.  Public Product Service (PPS)--carries all public warnings and watches, and various hydrologic, agricultural, and miscellaneous forecasts and products;

                  b.  Domestic Data Service (DDS)--carries basic observations and various aviation, marine, and miscellaneous products;

                  c.  International Data Service (IDS)--carries worldwide surface and upper-air observations and other miscellaneous products;

                  d.  Numerical Products Service (NPS)--carries analyses and forecasts derived from all of the NMC's models, plus forecasts prepared by the European Centre for Medium Range Forecasts;

                  e.  Direct Connect Services (DCS)--carries the same information as the NPS but for users requiring error-controlled NPS data;

                  f.  AFOS Graphics Service (AGS)--carries centrally produced vector graphic products from the NWS AFOS system;

                  g.  Digital Facsimile Service (DIFAX)--carries products related to international aviation, agriculture, and other weather analyses and prognoses; and

                  h.  Climate Analysis Center Climate Dial-up Service (CACCDUS)--provides climate data via dial-in access, with user fees assessed on a usage basis.

9.9             International Systems.  The Global Telecommunication System (GTS) is an international data exchange network sponsored by the WMO.  The NMC has been designated by the WMO as a World Meteorological Center.  The GTS is used to exchange weather information with meteorological forecasting National Centers in other nations (England, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, etc.).  Data received at the Washington OSO Systems Operation Center via computer-to-computer high-speed channels are relayed to other Centers as required by international agreements.  The GTS consists of a variety of terrestrial, satellite, and radio communication circuits.

In addition to the GTS, a variety of telecommunications facilities are used to exchange meteorological information with other countries and regions via a mixture of point-to-point circuits (e.g., Nassau, Jamaica, etc.) and regional networks.  Examples of regional networks are the Antilles Meteorological Network (ANMET) and the Central American Meteorological Network (CEMET).

The World Area Forecast System (WAFS) Satellite Broadcast System (WSBS) is scheduled for implementation by the mid 1990's.  The WSBS is a one-way satellite broadcast designed to provide timely and accurate aviation meteorological data to world aviation users, as well as serving as a conduit for meteorological data exchange between North and Central America.

The telecommunications links include a variety of technologies (satellite, radio, landlines, etc.) operating at a variety of speeds from 75 baud up to 56 Kbps.  The operating procedures are determined by the NWS with the concurrence of foreign correspondents, and conform to WMO standards and procedures.