link to page 1 
May 20, 2024
NOAA’s Commercial Data Program: Background and
Considerations for Congress
Since 1970, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
commercial weather data in [NOAA’s] weather modeling
Administration (NOAA) has operated satellites to collect
and forecasting” through at least one CWDP. It
environmental and weather data from space. With the rapid
appropriated $3 million to NOAA to “purchase, evaluate,
growth of the U.S. commercial space industry, both
and calibrate available data” (Table 1). The Weather
Congress and various Administrations (e.g., the 2010 and
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (WRFIA;
2020 National Space Policies) have directed federal
P.L. 115-25) codified the CWDP program, requiring the
agencies (e.g., NOAA, National Aeronautics and Space
NOAA Administrator to “publish data and metadata
Administration [NASA], Department of Defense) to
standards and specifications for space-based commercial
purchase and use U.S. commercial space capabilities and
weather data” (15 U.S.C. §8532(c)(1)).
services (to the maximum extent practical) and to prioritize
partnerships with the commercial space industry (when
In 2020, Congress passed the Promoting Research and
cost-effective) to meet government requirements. In
Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting
addition to the potential cost-effectiveness of commercial
of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act (P.L. 116-181), which
hosts and data buys, commercial providers may be able to
authorized the NOAA Administrator to establish a pilot
develop services faster than federal agencies’ historical
program “to enter into contracts with one or more entities in
approaches to mission development. Faster development
the commercial space weather sector for the provision of ...
can help meet increasing NOAA and other user demand for
space weather data” (51 U.S.C. §60607).
commercial space data.
The CWDP program has evaluated several types of data in
This In Focus provides an overview of NOAA’s
its pilot studies, including Global Navigation Satellite
Commercial Data Program, including the agency’s
System (GNSS) Radio Occultation (RO) data, microwave
purchase and use of commercial space data, proposed
sensor data, space weather data, and GNSS reflectometry.
changes to the program, and considerations for Congress.
For example, in 2016-2018 and 2018-2020, NOAA
conducted two rounds of CWDP studies focused on GNSS
Commercial Data Program
RO data, which can be used to determine atmospheric
NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC), which serves
temperature, humidity, and pressure, important components
as the entry point for commercial space providers to engage
of weather forecasting models. Through these pilot studies,
with NOAA, has established principles and a strategic plan
NOAA identified that GNSS RO data had the potential to
for commercial data buys. OSC also operates NOAA’s
support the agency’s operational weather forecasting and
Commercial Data Program, which manages the acquisition,
climate modeling endeavors.
ingestion, use, and dissemination of commercially sourced
satellite data. The Commercial Data Program has two
If NOAA’s assessment of a CWDP demonstrates, among
components: the Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP)
other factors, that the data add value to NOAA’s weather
program and the Commercial Data Purchase Program
forecasts, WRFIA authorizes the NOAA Administrator
(CDPP).
(also known as the Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere) to “where appropriate, cost-
Commercial Weather Data Pilot Program
effective, and feasible, obtain commercial weather data
In FY2016 appropriations report language, Congress
from private sector providers” (15 U.S.C. §8532(c)(2)(B))
directed NOAA “to assess the potential viability of
Table 1. Enacted Appropriations for the NOAA Commercial Data Program, FY2016-FY2024
(in millions of dol ars, nominal)
FY
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
CWDP
$3
$5
$6
$6
$3
n/a
$5
$5
n/a
CDPP
—
—
—
—
$5
n/a
$12
$22
n/a
Total
$3
$5
$6
$6
$8
$12
$17
$27
$27.5
Source: CRS, from explanatory statements accompanying appropriations laws. FY2020 amount from S.Rept. 116-127, which was adopted by
reference in the explanatory statement accompanying Division B of P.L. 116-93.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 1 NOAA’s Commercial Data Program: Background and Considerations for Congress
Notes: CWDP = Commercial Weather Data Pilot program; CDPP = Commercial Data Purchase Program; n/a = not applicable. NOAA
initiated the CDPP and Congress first funded the purchase of “commercial weather data” in FY2020. FY2021 and FY2024 explanatory
statements do not provide a breakdown of amounts between CWDP and CDPP.
Commercial Data Purchase Program
reduce duplication between NOAA, NASA, and other
Starting in 2020, successful CWDP studies have led to
federal departments and agencies.
commercial data purchases via CDPP. Congress
appropriated $5 million for FY2020 “to initiate commercial
Section 304 would direct the NOAA Administrator to
purchase of radio occultation [RO] data for operational use”
establish open data standards and data infrastructure and, to
(Table 1).
the greatest extent possible, to make weather data
purchased through the Commercial Data Program or shared
In 2020, after releasing a request for proposals seeking to
by international government partners accessible to the U.S.
“enter into one or more contracts to purchase near-real-time
weather enterprise.
satellite-based RO data from commercial vendors,” NOAA
awarded its first commercial data buy contracts (for a total
Considerations for Congress
of $23 million) to Spire Global (San Francisco, CA) and
Commercial data providers, NOAA, and other stakeholders
GeoOptics (Pasadena, CA) for two years. NOAA began
have expressed concerns with the Commercial Data
using purchased commercial RO data in operational
Program since its inception. Concerns have centered on the
weather forecasts on May 20, 2021.
following topics.
Weather Research and Forecasting
Frequency of Solicitations. Initially, NOAA canvassed the
Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023
commercial sector by issuing requests for information
Congress continues to propose policies related to NOAA’s
“typically every 2 to 3 years or as indicated by changing
assessment and purchase of commercial weather data, as
markets or technologies.” In FY2023, Congress noted that
well as other kinds of commercial data, from satellites and
such a schedule “may have the unintended consequence of
other sources. For example, if enacted, Title III of the
limiting new partnerships with the quickly evolving
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation
commercial sector” and directed the agency to conduct
Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 6093 in the 118th
solicitations on an annual or more frequent basis.
Congress) would amend WRFIA and provide NOAA
greater authority to obtain commercial data for weather and
Contract Lengths. Some providers state that short-term
environmental forecasting and modeling. The following
(less than one-year) contracts make it “almost impossible”
selected sections of Title III of H.R. 6093 address
to invest in satellites and continue product development.
commercial data.
NOAA has countered that long-term contracts could be
detrimental to companies seeking to enter the market and
Section 301 would codify the Commercial Data Program.
could lead to a single-vendor marketplace. H.R. 6093
In addition, it would broaden the program to require the
would direct NOAA to enter into year-long or multiyear
NOAA Administrator to acquire “satellite, ground-based,
contracts.
airborne, or marine-based in situ, remote sensing, or crowd-
sourced data and services for operational use relating to
Uncertain Market. NOAA reportedly has concerns that it
weather and environmental forecasting and modeling,”
is unclear whether “there is a cost benefit to using private
while ensuring the program coordinates, collaborates, and
data, in part because the relatively small number of
ensures access to data across the agency. The NOAA
competitors ... has made it challenging to determine a
Administrator would be required to “publish data, metadata,
steady market price.” For example, the only major
and service standards and specifications,” among other
companies with GNSS RO capability are Spire Global,
requirements, for the acquired observation services and data
GeoOptics, and PlanetiQ. Some providers have noted that it
listed above. The NOAA Administrator also would have to
has been “tricky to get people to invest when [the provider]
maintain existing intra-agency and advisory councils and
didn’t know if there would actually be a market for the
establish an ombudsman position to implement council
product once [they] built it.”
recommendations and liaise with commercial data and
service providers, among other things. To accomplish this
Types of Commercial Data Available. NOAA continues
section, the bill would authorize to NOAA appropriations
to identify other kinds of commercial weather data for the
of $100 million for each of FY2024 through FY2028.
CWDP program but, beyond GNSS RO, has not identified
data that meets its operational needs and is appropriate for
Section 302 would codify a new Commercial Data Pilot
purchase under CDPP. Some stakeholders remain
Program under the Commercial Data Program and would
optimistic about the potential application of commercial
require acquired data to meet the standards and
microwave and electro-optical/infrared data to weather and
specifications identified in Section 301, among other
environment forecasting.
requirements. Of the authorized appropriations described in
Section 301, not less than 15% would go to the CDPP.
Inclusion of Other Types of Commercial Data. Some
Members of Congress have proposed the expansion of the
Section 303 would direct NOAA, to the greatest extent
Commercial Data Program to include data acquired via
possible, to enter into year-long or multiyear contracts; to
commercial aircraft, commercial and research ships, and by
partner and contract with multiple observation service and
other means for operational use (e.g., §§§111, 113, and 301
data providers; to partner with private sector entities; and to
https://crsreports.congress.gov
NOAA’s Commercial Data Program: Background and Considerations for Congress
of H.R. 6093 and §801(d) of H.R. 3560 in the 118th
Eva Lipiec, Specialist in Natural Resource Policy
Congress).
IF12671
Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Analyst in Natural Resources
Policy
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