Collection and Distribution of Weather Information Raymond J. Ban Executive Vice President The Weather Channel, Inc. Free and Open Access Commercial Viewpoint WORKSHOP ON STRATEGY FOR PROVIDING ATMOSPHERIC INFORMATION DECEMBER 3-5, 2001

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

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

Traditional Roles Have Shifted (especially in the private sector) –Detailed Public Data Available by Internet to Consumers Private Sector – Data Collection – NWP Processing – Increased Capitalization –Increased Interest in Weather and Climate Information Public Sector

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?

Private Investment Requires Commensurate Return –Competitive Advantage All of the above create issues relative to free and open Access to Private Sector – Generated Environmental Data – Effective Monetization – Liability – Market Position – Others

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?