Table of Contents:                                                                                                                                 Page

             1.  Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 1

             2.  Description .......................................................................................................................... 1

             3.  Data Products ..................................................................................................................... 2

             4.  Policy on NWR Costs ........................................................................................................ 2

                  4.1  National Weather Service ........................................................................................... 2
                 4.2  Private Interest Groups ................................................................................................ 2

             5.  Organizational Responsibility .............................................................................................. 3

                  5.1  National Weather Service Headquarters ...................................................................... 3
                  5.2  Regional Headquarters ................................................................................................ 3
                  5.3  Field Offices ............................................................................................................... 3

Appendix:

 Agreement for the Operation of a NOAA Weather  Radio Transmitter by a Private Cooperator ............. A-1
 

1.               Purpose.  This chapter describes the National Weather Service (NWS) policy on agreements and overall network management responsibilities for the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) network.

2.               Description.  The NWS mission includes the timely dissemination of weather warnings, forecasts, natural disasters, and meteorological data to the public through the use of highly reliable, modern information processing and telecommunications systems.  The NWR is the primary means by which this vital information is delivered directly to emergency preparedness agencies and the general public.

In addition, under a January 1975 White House policy statement, the NWR was designated as the sole Government-operated radio system to provide direct warnings into private homes for both natural disasters and nuclear attack.  This capability is to supplement warnings by sirens, commercial radio, and television.

The NWR network consists of over 380 VHF FM broadcast stations located throughout the United States, Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.  The vast majority of the nation's population is within listening range of an NWR broadcast.  NWR broadcasts are made on one of seven frequencies ranging from 162.40 to 162.55 megahertz.

NWR broadcasts can usually be heard as far as 40 miles from the antenna site.  The effective range depends on many factors, particularly the height of the broadcasting antenna, terrain, quality of the receiver, and type of receiving antenna.

3.               Data Products.  Broadcasts are tailored to weather information needs of people within the receiving area.  For example, stations along the sea coasts and Great Lakes provide weather information for boaters, fisherman, and others engaged in marine activities, as well as general weather information.  Taped weather messages are repeated every four to six minutes and are routinely revised every one to three hours, or more frequently if needed.

During severe weather, NWS forecasters can interrupt the routine weather broadcasts and substitute special warning messages.  The forecasters can also activate specially designed warning receivers.  Such receivers either sound an alarm indicating that an emergency exists, alerting the listener to turn the receiver up to an audible volume, or, when operated in a muted mode, are automatically turned on so that the warning message is heard.  "Warning alarm" (alert tone) receivers are especially valuable for schools, hospitals, public-safety agencies, and news media offices.

4.              Policy on NWR Costs.  Access to the NWR broadcast is provided free of charge to all listeners.

4.1                 National Weather Service.  The NWS is responsible for the maintenance and logistical support required for the operation of all NWS-owned NWR stations.

4.2                Private Interest Groups.  Private groups such as local community organizations, city or county government(s), etc., are encouraged to sponsor and fund a private NWR station.  If funds required to set up and maintain the private NWR station are provided by a private sponsor, the NWS will make appropriate weather information available at its local office and assist in the analyses necessary for the siting and licensing of the NWR transmitter.  Information on establishing a private NWR station is available from the NWR Program Manager.  The agreement that must be executed between the NWS and the private interest group is provided as the appendix.

5.           Organizational Responsibility.  This section describes the responsibilities of the NWS Headquarters, regional headquarters, and field offices.

5.1               National Weather Service Headquarters.  The Office of Systems Operations provides staff assistance to the NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services for NWR management and configuration control.

The Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch of the Systems Integration Division, Office of Systems Operations, has overall responsibility for the program management of the NWR network.

The Engineering Design Branch of the Engineering Division, Office of Systems Operations, has responsibility for the oversight and engineering management of the NWR transmitter system national maintenance contract and engineering support of the overall NWR network.

5.2             Regional Headquarters.  It is the responsibility of the regional headquarters to coordinate with the field sites for problems or operational changes and to escalate to the NWR Program Manager at NWS Headquarters any system maintenance
or end-user problems that cannot be resolved at the local or regional level.

5.3            Field Offices.  The NWS field offices are responsible for the daily operations and quality control of the NWR broadcast.  They are also responsible for notifying the national maintenance contractor of transmitter system outages (if that site is contractor-maintained) or notifying local electronics technicians of similar outages if the site is Government- maintained.  The field offices are also the main interface with the external end-user community.
 

I.           PURPOSE

This Agreement covers the operation of a NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)
transmitter by      (Organization)       hereinafter referred to as the "Cooperator" at      (City/State)     .

II.           EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION

The Cooperator agrees to provide transmitting equipment as specified by the National Weather Service (NWS).  The Cooperator is solely responsible for all aspects of equipment installation and operation.

III.          LICENSE AND OPERATING REQUIREMENTS

The NWS will obtain the license for the transmitter.  The license remains the property of the NWS.  The Cooperator agrees to provide all information required for the license application and to operate the transmitter strictly in accordance with the license.  The Cooperator also agrees that broadcast content will originate solely from an authorized NWS source.

IV.          DEFINING SERVICE AREA

The Cooperator is responsible for providing the NWS office responsible for the service area,         (City/State)        , with a map showing the area serviced by a signal level of 8 microvolts/meter or more within 90 days after the transmitter is placed in operation.

V.           MAINTAINANCE

The Cooperator will use qualified and licensed radio technicians for maintenance performed on the transmitter.  The Cooperator agrees to assign sufficient priority to the maintenance of the transmitter to ensure that outages are kept to a minimum, breakdowns and malfunctions are acted upon quickly, and equipment performs routinely within technical specifications.

The Cooperator agrees to notify the NWS office named in Section IV whenever the transmitter goes off the air and when service is again restored.

The NWS is responsible for ensuring that transmitter emissions meet specifications.  The NWS, particularly when made aware of a Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) problem, may request that an immediate technical checkout of the transmitter be performed by the Cooperator.  The Cooperator hereby agrees to comply with said request.  If any RFI problems persist, the transmitter will be shut down by the Cooperator until the problem is solved.

VI.           PUBLICITY

The NWS office responsible for the transmitter service area and the Cooperator will coordinate and jointly issue a public announcement covering the new service.  If the service is terminated for any reason, the two agencies will also coordinate a public statement explaining the reason(s) for termination.

VII.           GOVERNMENT SAVED HARMLESS

The Cooperator shall hold and save the government, its officers, agents, and employees harmless from liability of any nature or kind, including costs and expenses, for or on account of any or all suits or damages of any character whatsoever resulting from injuries or damages sustained by any person or persons or property by virtue of this Agreement.

VIII.           FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

All costs associated with the installation, operation, and maintenance of the transmitter shall by borne by the Cooperator.

IX.           AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

This Agreement may be amended or modified at any time by mutual consent of the parties hereto.  It may be terminated at any time by mutual consent of the parties hereto or terminated by either party upon giving at least 60 days written notice.

X.            EFFECTIVE DATE

This Agreement is effective as of the last date shown below when signed by both parties hereto.

            (Director's Name)                                                                                             (Cooperator's Name)

       (Director, NWS Region)                                                                                         (Cooperator's Title)

                    Date                                                                                                                        Date