Collection and Distribution of Weather Information

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Collection and Distribution of Weather Information
WORKSHOP ON STRATEGY FOR PROVIDING ATMOSPHERIC
INFORMATION DECEMBER 3-5, 2001
Free and Open Access Commercial Viewpoint

• Raymond J. Ban
• Executive Vice President
• The Weather Channel, Inc.

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Free And Open Access To Weather Information

• We are not talking about commercial activities of
  public meteorological services

• We are talking about investment in weather
  information collection and processing by private
  industry

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Traditional Roles in United States
Public/Private Partnership Delivery of Weather
Information

• Public Sector

• Collect Data

• Run NWP Models

• Issue Watches, Warnings, Advisories

• Issue Public Forecasts

Private Sector

• Provide Tailored/Customized Products and
  Services Using Primarily Public Information

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• Traditional Roles Have Shifted (especially in the
  private sector)

• Public Sector

• Detailed Public Data Available by Internet to
  Consumers

Private Sector

• Data Collection

• NWP Processing

• Increased Capitalization

• Increased Interest in Weather and Climate
  Information

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So, What Happens If/When

• Weather Satellites Are Flown by Private
  Companies?

• Privately Owned Radar Networks Are Established?

• Privately Owned Mesonets Are Implemented on a
  Large Scale?

• Private NWP Surpasses Public Products Quality?

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Private Investment Requires Commensurate Return

• Competitive Advantage

• Effective Monetization

• Liability

• Market Position

• Others

All of the above create issues relative to free
and open Access to Private Sector Generated
Environmental Data
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Questions Going Forward

• What do United States citizens require/want from
  their public weather service?

• What are the most efficient economic models for
  providing weather services to the nation?

• What will be the future roles of the public and
  private sectors?

• What are the financial models that will permit
  free and open access to private information sets?