1. 1 Update from American Meteorological Society Ad Hoc Committee on Private and Public Weather Services Doyle Pittman Tennessee Valley Authority October 10, 2003

2. 2 Background  Long history of tension between private and public sectors on provision of weather and climate services  In recent years, universities have also become involved  A committee of the National Research Council completed a study in 2002 of academic - private – public partnerships (Fair Weather – Effective Partnerships in Weather and Climate Services)

3. 3 NRC Report Conclusion  Prudent public policy must be based on the assumption that rapid advances in scientific understanding and technology will continue.  The changes make it inadvisable to define sharp boundaries for what each sector can and cannot do. Indeed, such prescriptions would be obsolete and ineffectual before they could be promulgated.  Instead, the public, private, and academic sectors must work diligently to improve the processes and mechanisms by which they will deal with the problems and differences that are certain to arise.

4. 4 NRC Recommendation  The NRC report contained about a dozen recommendations, one of which states that these parties should seek a: "...neutral host, such as the American Meteorological Society, to provide a periodic, dedicated venue for the weather enterprise as a whole to discuss issues related to the public- private partnership."

5. 5 AMS Executive Committee Charge ... ascertain the level of enthusiasm for the alternatives of a relatively passive versus a relatively proactive AMS response to the NRC report; and  develop a set of optional responses, with pros and cons, for the EC to consider.

6. 6 Ad Hoc Committee  The AMS Executive Committee created this committee in July 2003 with the following structure: Chair Academic Members Private Sector Members Public Sector Members User’s Representatives Non-Government Organization Ex Officio

7. 7 Ad Hoc Committee continued  Consists of 21 members  Matt Parker is a private sector rep.  Doyle Pittman is a user rep.- energy sector  Meeting by teleconference only  AMS set up a list server to facilitate communication  Complete work this fall – EC act in Jan. 04

8. 8 User Input  Committee very interested in hearing from the user community:  Solicited input from NUMUG list server  Received 14 responses

9. 9 Receipt of information from the weather community?  Prefer an electronic means: Website E-mail Newsletter (Check out AboutWeather http://www.mqinc.com/aboutwxstart1.htm)

10. 10 Do you get the information you want?  Yes, but have to do some hunting  Don’t always get it in a timely manner

11. 11 Aware of product developments/enhancements?  NO  AMS serve as clearinghouse

12. 12 Other thoughts?  Cost to AMS  Is AMS a neutral host?  Information overload  AMS should not facilitate between sectors

13. 13 Possible Directions  AMS host an open forum for all sectors at annual and regional meetings  AMS provide communication opportunities such as: Web site Newsletter Reports  Form a new Commission in the AMS or add a Board in an existing Commission.  Annual partnership workshop.