[i670684]

The way I read this, the NWS would be constrained to provide only severe weather warnings and forecasts. Protection of life and property could be easily interpreted to mean information and forecasts related to severe weather -only-. The "***" you mention refers to this text, which seems pretty clear to me:

(a)(1)(A) "The preparation and issuance of severe weather warnings and forecasts designed for the protection of life and property of the general public."

I think most of the run of the mill forecasts, radar, etc. could be considered off-limits for the NWS. It''s clear Accuweather and their ilk want to be the exclusive middlemen (I smell $$) between info the NWS and NOAA produce and the general public. How about we ask Accuweather to launch their own weather satellites or pay for the ones they''re using today? Surely they don''t think it''s ok for them to make use of that data but not me?

I''m all for getting the government out of what could be provided by the private sector, but this is just a blatant power play to benefit a few weather information companies.

Dave