Data Policy Development for Commercial RO Data Purchase and Use
Kate
Becker
NOAA NESDIS
Oral
The initiation of commercial Radio Occultation (RO) data use by government organizations necessitates developments in data policy to allow the government to be a good customer as well as a smart buyer, and to ensure the optimal availability and use of data. This presentation will discuss NOAA’s progress to date and ongoing work in this area.
The NOAA Commercial Space Policy includes 1) ensuring access to global observations, 2) upholding national/international standards, and 3) ensuring a vibrant research enterprise as guiding principles as the agency considers space-based commercial data use. The policy states that NOAA will seek to maximize the public benefit of commercial data by negotiating the least restrictive terms of use possible, and that NOAA will ultimately evaluate data sharing agreements on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 directs NOAA to continue to meet existing international meteorological agreements in the use of commercial data.
Beginning with the RO data acquired in Commercial Weather Data Pilot Round 2, and continuing with the first Delivery Order of its operational RO data purchase, NOAA has purchased a license for data that allows for sharing with caveats based on who can access the data, when they can access it, and for what purpose. NOAA’s first Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts for commercial RO data, spanning 2021 and 2022, include nine levels of data sharing license that NOAA may procure throughout the two year period. These levels range from NOAA-only access to full and open access.
NOAA is actively coordinating with other U.S. government agencies on broader U.S. government use of and policy for commercial data through the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and the U.S. Group on Earth Observations. Internal government topics include standardizing licensing options and definitions, sharing market research results, understanding differences in agency requirements and acquisition processes, considering data sharing infrastructure, coordinating data evaluations, and coordinating internationally. Government agencies are also moving out on methods to coordinate with the commercial sector to understand perspectives and jointly consider legal and policy options for various scenarios. These activities are also aimed at ensuring the government is a good customer and a smart buyer.
All of these activities will be informed by evolving activity in government organizations around the world and in the commercial sector. NOAA will continue to engage in international and interagency discussions to optimize the use of commercial data into the future.
The NOAA Commercial Space Policy includes 1) ensuring access to global observations, 2) upholding national/international standards, and 3) ensuring a vibrant research enterprise as guiding principles as the agency considers space-based commercial data use. The policy states that NOAA will seek to maximize the public benefit of commercial data by negotiating the least restrictive terms of use possible, and that NOAA will ultimately evaluate data sharing agreements on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 directs NOAA to continue to meet existing international meteorological agreements in the use of commercial data.
Beginning with the RO data acquired in Commercial Weather Data Pilot Round 2, and continuing with the first Delivery Order of its operational RO data purchase, NOAA has purchased a license for data that allows for sharing with caveats based on who can access the data, when they can access it, and for what purpose. NOAA’s first Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts for commercial RO data, spanning 2021 and 2022, include nine levels of data sharing license that NOAA may procure throughout the two year period. These levels range from NOAA-only access to full and open access.
NOAA is actively coordinating with other U.S. government agencies on broader U.S. government use of and policy for commercial data through the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and the U.S. Group on Earth Observations. Internal government topics include standardizing licensing options and definitions, sharing market research results, understanding differences in agency requirements and acquisition processes, considering data sharing infrastructure, coordinating data evaluations, and coordinating internationally. Government agencies are also moving out on methods to coordinate with the commercial sector to understand perspectives and jointly consider legal and policy options for various scenarios. These activities are also aimed at ensuring the government is a good customer and a smart buyer.
All of these activities will be informed by evolving activity in government organizations around the world and in the commercial sector. NOAA will continue to engage in international and interagency discussions to optimize the use of commercial data into the future.
Presentation file