NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE           Operations Manual
                                               SILVER    SPRING, MARYLAND 20910   Letter    15-81

Date of Issue:   December 11, 1981                  Effective Date:   December 11, 1981

In Reply Refer To:    O A / W522                     File With:   B - 50

Subject:     Policy for Allowing Nongovernment Users to Access National Weather Service Radar Data

Purpose.

    It is our policy to encourage the dissemination and effective use of radar data through such channels as private meteorologists, industry, cable television, and television broadcasting for public use. With the increased number of nongovernment owned digital radar remoting transmitters being installed in our offices, it is necessary to have a policy to define the responsibilities of the National Weather Service (NWS) and the radar remoting users. The user need not necessarily be the owner of the equipment but is, nevertheless, responsible for proper operation of the equipment.

To install a non-NWS owned radar remoting system to an NWS radar, the following must be accomplished by the user before the installation of any equipment is authorized.

    Monitoring equipment will not normally be installed at WSMO's. In the case of remoting installations at these sites, the site location of the monitoring equipment will be designated by the Regional Director after consulting with Area Managers.

    The location of the monitoring equipment within the office selected will be determined by the meteorologist/official in charge. However, this should be coordinated with the responsible AES.

    Approval of non-NWS owned radar remote systems at all radar sites is based on a first come, first served basis and is contingent on availability of space in government owned quarters. If space is not available in government quarters, it will be the responsibility of the user to arrange for space for the remoting equipment.

    To meet the interpretation requirements as stated in B.5 of the agreement, cable television users can furnish the NOAA Weather Radio audio on the channel the radar is displayed.

    Also, to prevent continuous display of old radar data, CATV users are required to automatically clear their display once an hour. This prevents continuous display of stored data whenever service to the transmitter is broken or when radar service has been terminated.

    To eliminate errors in the electronic map overlays, we recommend the maps be prepared from Lambert Conformal Conic Projections with standard parallel nearest the location of the radar site. Road or highway maps are not suitable for preparing electronic maps. Copies of paper radar charts can be requested from the radar station concerned.

    All telephone line terminations in National Weather Service offices must be in the NWS-Telco demarcation panel. It will be the responsibility of the radar remote transmitting equipment owner to make the final wiring and signal line terminations to the transmitting equipment.

NWS Monitoring Responsibility.

    Quality control of transmitted radar information must be done, as described below, if the monitor is collocated with the radar or if the monitor is remote from the radar. For collocated equipment, it should be straightforward for one person to do the comparison. If the monitor is remote from the radar, then a phone conversation is required between the radar operator and someone at the location of the remote monitor. Procedures for carrying out the quality control effort between radar operators and personnel at the location of the remote monitor should be mutually agreed upon.

    Each station responsible for quality control of a color digital radar remoting system must maintain a log with entries to verify when the quality control procedure was accomplished and by whom. If problems are present, they must be described in the log, along with what action was taken. Each monitoring station should include in its log the phone numbers to call for repairs when problems are noted.

    Monitor the remoted display to assure the display is consistent with echoes on the NWS radarscope (PPI). Monitors should be checked at least once every 8-hour shift at locations where the monitoring equipment is located on site with the radar equipment. Where the monitor is located at a remote location from the radar, the remoting system should be checked once daily and whenever a malfunction is suspected. Remotely located monitors should be checked by whatever means that are available (WBRR, RRWDS, SD's, and other brands of remoting equipment). Also, obtain from the radar site the geographical locations, intensities, and coverage of echoes that can be easily located on the radar display and the location of echoes that can be isolated.

Tolerances allowed:

VIP Level 1 -- The remote system should display no more than +20 percent echo coverage of VIP Level 1 as compared with the radar PPI. At Locations that are remote from the radar site this can be determined by measuring the extent of the Level 1 display along a selected azimuth and determining from the radar operator the extent of the Level 1 displayed on the PPI.

VIP Levels 2 through 6 -- The intensity level displayed on the remoting system must be the same as displayed on the PPI.

    Deviations approaching those listed above require notifying the user for corrective actions, but the remoting system can be allowed to continue to operate with monitoring for the above tolerance done each 8 hours.

    Deviations that exceed those specified above require notifying the user immediately and terminating service until the fault is corrected. Termination is accomplished by turning off power to the transmitter or disconnecting the telephone signal lines.

    In general, NWS electronics technicians (el techs) are not authorized to make repairs or adjustments to radar remoting systems owned by others. The el tech's function is to determine that radar signals presented at the interface to the remoting system are correct.

THIS AGREEMENT is entered into on this ______ day of  ________19__ between the United States of America, Department of   Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, hereinafter referred to as "NWS," and   _______________________________________________________________________

hereinafter referred to as the "User." In order to provide for the use of weather radar data, the parties do hereby mutually agree:

SPECIAL PROVISIONS:

A. Prospective Users are cautioned that failure to return to the National Weather Service the certified original and two copies of this agreement within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt by the User can result in refusal of the application by the National Weather Service.

B. In the event that the required equipment is not installed by the User within ninety (90) calendar days of execution of this Agreement, the National Weather Service reserves the right to cancel this Agreement.

C. NWS will exercise complete control of the radar at all times.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

A.    NWS agrees:

(b) To furnish electrical energy required for the equipment but not to include electrical energy for microwave transmitters provided it is convenient to meter such electrical energy to NWS and that electrical energy is available for this purpose. Electrical modifications, if required, will be done by the User.

(c) That NWS personnel assigned to the office specified in subparagraph (A.l.a.) will exercise reasonable care to protect property of the User.

B. User agrees:

1.    To install, service, maintain, and remove when this Agreement is terminated, at no cost to NWS, equipment required to obtain radar telephone transmission signals of the NWS radar located at ________________________________________________________________________.
Installation will be in coordination with and under the direction of the meteorologist/official in charge of the NWS office or their designee. An installation proposal shall be approved by the NWS regional headquarters, prior to actual installation of equipment. The proposal shall show the location of the equipment to be installed in Government quarters and the routing of cable and conduit. Connections to the radar shall be under the direction of an NWS electronics technician and in accordance with the best modern practice. Installed equipment must have safeguards to protect damage to NWS equipment. If electrical energy is not conveniently available, User shall arrange for it.

2.    (a)     To have a color monitor provided to the NWS, at no cost to NWS, in consideration for space, electricity, or monitoring services provided by NWS. The monitor will be minimum of 19 measured diagonally.

        (b)    That the monitor will be used to assure that erroneous data are not transmitted. The User is required to participate in NWS quality control procedures.

        (c)    That the monitor must make available, continuously, the color radar image. NWS has the authority to tap into the remote radar signal at any point in the transmission of this signal from the NWS Office into the facilities of the User. Any NWS Office has the right to dial into any existing coupler connected to NWS radars. NWS will be provided with the proper phone numbers to use. Sufficient electronic overlays of geographic features are to be included on the monitor.

    (d)     To assure that the monitor is properly maintained. Such maintenance shall include adjustments, installation of parts, etc., and will be provided promptly upon request from the NWS since continuation of this service by the NWS is dependent on proper maintenance. An address and phone number for obtaining this service will be supplied to the NWS. In this case, the address and phone number is (to be completed by User).

    (e)     That the monitor will be placed in a location selected by NWS. In this case, it is the weather office at _______________________________________________________________.

.3.    To provide and maintain a National Weather Service Headquarters approved isolation distribution equipment (IDE) if not already provided by another user. This is required even if no other radar remoting systems are installed on the radar and is intended to reduce the possibility of damage or interference to the radar.

4.    To give full credit and identification of any interpretations of the images on the radarscope that are furnished by NWS personnel and to take due care to avoid the implication that interpretations by others are those of NWS.

5.    That all images on the radarscope to be conveyed to the public shall be accompanied with an interpretation of the display as provided by an employee of NWS or by a professional meteorologist who is experienced in the interpretation of storm detection radar and has the qualifications for membership in the American Meteorological Society, or by NOAA Weather Radio broadcast. All such interpretations must be based on a radar image that is within l hour of the time of the televised image. The User must specify or display the time of the image. The User's equipment must visibly specify the correct time of the image displayed, in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and, if possible, the date. It is the User's responsibility to know the time of the image being transmitted and the time of the image which is the basis for the interpretation. Users that are providing radar images continuously to the public shall assure that the radar images are never more than l hour old. User agrees to standardize VIP levels and colors assigned to VIP levels, to NWS specifications, to avoid confusion to the public.

6.    That if any advertisement or telecasts are involved, proper acknowledgement be given to the public that the video display is from the NWS radar at ______________________ (or other location, if appropriate). The acknowledgment must be oral or visible. If electronic sweep is used, the origin must be centered at the location of the NWS radar display.

7.    That if TV broadcasts are involved, no visual commercial message shall be superimposed on the picture of the NWS radarscope at any time; that there shall be nothing in the announcements associated with telecasts to indicate or imply that NWS endorses any commercial product advertised.

8.    To hold the United States Government, its officers, agents, and employees free from liability for any loss or damage to User property installed to carry out this Agreement.

9.    To pay all costs and expenses resulting from this Agreement, except electrical energy when furnished by NWS under subparagraph (A.l.b.) above.

l0.    To assume full responsibility for the use made of any information telecast or otherwise disseminated and to hold the United States Government, its officers, agents, and employees harmless from any liability, including costs and expenses,for any damage or injury to property or persons that may arise from such use.

11.    Not to make the radar information available to others for re-transmission unless the other party has an agreement, similar to this Agreement, with NWS.

12.    To obtain any necessary permits and to abide by all applicable rules, regulations, or laws pertaining to this Agreement with NWS.

13.    If requested by NWS, to permit use of equipment specified under subparagraph (B.l.) by other users on a basis satisfactory from the viewpoint of being reasonable and equitable both to such other users and to User, not only with respect to the most effective utilization of the facility, but also as to the sharing of the upkeep and the initial cost of the facility. Manufacturers and/or users must coordinate with each other when installing or modifying equipment.

14. That NWS has the right to disconnect User's equipment without notice if the NWS monitor referred to in subparagraph (B.2.) indicates that nonrepresentative radar data is getting transmitted. User agrees to provide easy access for equipment disconnect.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This Agreement is effective __________________  and expires on ________________, unless terminated at any time with or without cause, by either party on written  notice to the other. Such notice shall be effective on date of mailing. Request for renewal shall be forwarded to NWS thirty (30) days prior to expiration date.

LIMITATION:

A. NWS cannot guarantee that the radar will operate continuously or at standard elevation angle and normal rotating mode.

B. User agrees that the granting of this authorization by NWS does not vest any exclusive or permanent right to receive the service to be provided hereunder and that such service may be modified and/or suspended at any time at the discretion of NWS without recourse.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the latest date written below:

USER _____________________     UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
                                                         Department of Commerce
                                                         National Oceanic and
                                                         Atmospheric Administration
                                                         National Weather Service

BY: _______________________ BY: _____________________________

TITLE: ____________________ TITLE: ___________________________

DATE: ____________________ DATE: ___________________________

    Users are required to furnish a telephone contact for notification of remoting equipment faults and outages. In the case of multiple users, one contact should be designated for notification. This will have to be worked out between the different users and the NWS should not get involved in determining who should be notified.

Richard E. Hallgren
Director, National Weather Service

Attachments

Attachment B

    In accordance with your request for tie-in to WSR- Radar at ________________________, I have enclosed an original and two copies of the "Agreement for Access to and Distribution of National Weather Service Radar Data," to be signed by your company. All signed copies are to be returned to me. One copy will be sent back to you after final validation.

    It is important you understand that proper radar interpretation may affect the lives of thousands of people. Misinterpretation of  radar depictions could result in either false alarm or no alarm -- both of which could have serious effects on the National Weather Service's warnings.

    In regard to Article B.13, it will be up to the Users involved to work out agreements where it is desired or necessary to use a common transmitter. However, agreements such as the enclosed between the National Weather Service and any additional Users are also required.

    The National Weather Service requires a separate monitor for each transmitter attached to its radars. The monitors will be installed at an office specified by NWS. This is covered in paragraph B.2.a-e under Responsibilities. A monitor must be able to present continuously to the NWS the radar image available to the User whether it is being used or not. In consideration for space and/or electricity or monitoring service provided by the Government, the monitor shall be provided at no cost to the Government. The User providing the monitor is responsible for having it maintained and kept properly adjusted. In this case, a monitor provided by your firm would be installed at the Weather Service Office at

    You are required to provide us with the name and phone number of the person responsible for maintaining the transmitter and monitor.

    An installation proposal shall be approved by the NWS regional headquarters prior to actual installation of equipment. The proposal shall show the location of the equipment to be installed in Government quarters and the routing of cable and conduit. Personnel of the User and/or installer of the remoting equipment shall not enter NWS quarters containing radar equipment without permission of the station manager or electronics technician. Installation of the equipment must be performed in the presence of an NWS electronics technician.

    If there are any problems or questions about the radar, you may contact __________________________ Meteorologist in Charge (MIC) of ______________________ phone number ______________________ . Our regional headquarters staff can also be contacted for information by calling _______________________________________________ phone number ____________________________.

                                            Sincerely yours,

Enclosures (2)

cc: