[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 27337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13700]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
Transition From GOES TAP/GOES Fax Transmission of Satellite Imagery to 
Alternative Methods of Delivery

AGENCIES: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information 
Service (NESDIS), National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice publishes the NESDIS and the NWS plan to 
transition from the current GOES-Tap/GOES-Fax (telephone-based) analog 
service to new digital-data transmission modes including NOAAPORT 
point-to-multipoint broadcast and the Internet. No changes will occur 
without several advance notifications. A minimum 6-month notification 
is planned for the user community.

ADDRESSES: Information concerning this Notice is available upon 
request. GOES-Tap users can send inquires to NESDIS, Satellite Services 
Division, 5200 Auth Road, Room 607, Camp Springs, Maryland 20748.
    For GOES-Fax users, requests for information should be sent to the 
NWS, Telecommunications and Dissemination Branch, 1325 East-West 
Highway, Suite 17444, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Paquette (GOES-Tap) at 301-763-8051, e-mail at 
[email protected] or Herb Hawkins (GOES-FAX) at 301-713-0425 
or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established in the mid 1970's, the 
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 
Telecommunications Access Program (GOES-Tap) has provided Weather 
Service Forecast Offices (WSFO) with near real-time, high quality 
analog environmental satellite imagery from geostationary and polar-
orbiting satellites. Many other Federal Government and private weather 
users also access this satellite imagery via regional Satellite Field 
Distribution Facilities directly as GOES-Tap customers or are connected 
to a WSFO as a secondary GOES-Fax customer.
    In support of the NWS modernization, NESDIS plans to meet new 
expanded NWS operational data requirements by transitioning from the 
analog GOES-Tap to a digital GOES data relay through a commercial 
satellite. This satellite point-to-multipoint broadcast is referred to 
as NOAAPORT and will cover the United States, including Hawaii and 
Alaska.
    Scheduled for full deployment near the end of the decade, NOAAPORT 
will provide users with real-time transmission of high resolution 
digital sectorized data from both GOES and other satellite platforms. 
Currently, NOAA is also examining additional means of digital satellite 
data delivery including the Internet.
    NOAA plans to decommission GOES-Tap/GOES-Fax during calendar years 
1997 and 1998. These planning dates could be moved up. All known GOES-
Tap/GOES-Fax users will be updated on specific decommissioning dates at 
least 6 months prior to termination of these services. GOES-Tap and 
GOES-Fax customers are encouraged to begin making preparations for this 
transition.

    Dated: May 24, 1996.
Robert S. Winokur,
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 96-13700 Filed 5-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M