[Sailormon6]

S786 will not prohibit the National Weather Service from using graphics and displays to disseminate weather information to the general public. We non-commercial members of the public will have the same materials available to us as we do now, and in the same eye-appealing format.

The following is the actual language of S786:

"(b) COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR.--The National Weather Service shall not provide, or assist other entities in providing, a service or product ***(other than a service or product described in subsection (a)(1)(A))*** that is or could be provided by the private sector unless:
(1) the Secretary determines that the private sector is unwilling or unable to provide such service or product; or
(2) the United States Government is obligated to provide such service or product under international aviation agreements...."

The words that I bracketed with asterisks (***) mean that the prohibition in question does not apply to weather warnings and forecasts designed for the protection of life and property of the general public. The government will continue to provide the same information to the general public as before, and in the same format. The proposal will only stop the giveaway of taxpayer-paid services to commercial users.

You can read the full text of the bill for yourself at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s109-786

By comparison with most legislation, it isn''t very lengthy or complicated.