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Fair Weather, Part 2
Tue Aug 10, 2004
Listen in RealAudio 
New Directions, New Partnerships, next on The Weather Notebook.
Hi, I’m Bryan Yeaton for The Weather Notebook. Today, we continue talking with Edward Johnson, former Director of Strategic Planning for the National Weather Service, about their report called Fair Weather, which recommends strengthening ties between the Weather Service and existing partners.
I think one of the – one of the fundamental things that needs to be said is that the system that we have in this country that mixes the capabilities of government and the capabilities of the private sector and the capabilities of the academic community is really very effective. It gives America the - the widest range of weather and climate and environmental information services, and really is, uh, you know, fundamentally it supports our economy. Uh, it protects us from hazardous conditions and, frankly, this interview is even an example of that. Uh, you know, we count on the media to, uh, get the word out. Uh, the people that you see on the television are not government employees.
There had been talk that many of the weather service products would only be available to the general public through private corporations, but Johnson denies that will happen.
The open and unrestricted dissemination of government information is actually a, uh, - it’s a more fundamental government policy than even weather. The policy, itself, endorses that fundamental relationship between the government and the people, uh, that the people, you know, already paid for the information and, uh, they have, uh, they have a right to get it with, uh, you know, without being charged twice for it.
The comment period for Fair Weather ended June 30th, but NOAA’s Strategic plan is also out for review. To find that, go to our website, www.weathernotebook.org. Our show is funded by Subaru of America and the National Science Foundation.
Today's Links
NOAA’s Strategic Plan
http://www.spo.noaa.gov/
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