New Bill Would Ban Public NOAA Weather Data

ckokotay writes "Here we go again. Apparently for-pay weather companies (specifically Accuweather) have lobbied Senator Rick Santorum to introduce a bill to ban the National Weather Service from 'competing.' The NOAA just made data available for free on the internet in XML format. Essentially, that means no more free data, and the possible elimination of the NOAA web presence all together. Nothing like being able to buy off a clueless Senator - lets hope the rest do not fall in line, as I for one, do not like to pay for my information twice." This debate picks up where the last one left off. According to the article, the bill's biggest critics are complaining of the bill's vague wording which makes it unclear what exactly is being banned.

Comments

My own private army...

[ackthpt]

Ok, here's how it'll work. I'll contract the US Dept. of Defense to do some guard detail for me, somewhere, where I contract out their services. once the DoD enters into these sorts of contracts, the next time the US invades some country I'll write Senator Rick Santorum, complaining bitterly how they've giving away their services for free and unfairly competing with my private business interests, (especially if I've contracted the DoD to guard the country they are invading.)

Once the bill motors through the Senate and House, and has the signature of the prez (Hey, the GOP loves private businesses, right?) I'll be able to direct when and where war actually takes place.

This should undoubtably improve my popularity gasp and maybe get me a gulp date with that cutie gosh I've had my eye on for a while!

Ok, Kim's check bounced, you can invade now.

XML

[Anonymous Coward]

XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.

Re:XML

[Johnno74]

XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.

You misspelled "when". HTH!

Hmm you're clearly not using enough XML

In other news....

[Monf]

the Weather Channel is asking cable companies to add a surcharge based on the number of windows in a subscriber's household, to recoup lost revenues due to subscriber's looking outside to see what the weather is like...

Soylent Green may be people, but...

[Anne_Nonymous]

Santorum is "analubepoo"

Definition of Santorum according to Dan Savage

[Laconian]

Santorum (n.)

1. That frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the by-product of anal sex.

2. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)

What an unbelievable coincidence!

[winkydink]

Accuweather is headquartered in Pennsylvania. And Santorum is a senator from PA. I mean, come on, what are the odds of that? ;)

Ban Libraries

[Catamaran]

The government should just get out of the information business. The free market is the best way to ensure that we get the most unbiased information.

My god...

[Junta]

I think I have a new sig...

Re:My god...

[stinerman]

You'd better give that the proper attribution it deserves!

spin

[Phroggy]

You should definitely check out the official spin on this:

Santorum Proposes to Modernize National Weather Service to Better Serve Public

You're too late

[Engineer-Poet]

Halliburton has beat you to it (and might hold the patent).

Re:You're too late

[Anonymous Coward]

Halliburton doesn't have to bother with that pesky contracting buisiness since the US military is already one of their wholly-owned subsidiaries.

let me just say..

[ShaniaTwain]

Ewww! santorum..

Re:Accuweather's crusade

[SpaceLifeForm]

Is half the population of the U.S. just completely blind and ignorant to the damage these guys are doing to our country?

No. More than half.