[nws-changes] 20100530:comments-upper and lower case for text products

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [nws-changes] 20100530:comments-upper and lower case for text products
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 17:31:18 -0600

NOUS41 KWBC 281715

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...COMMENT REQUEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
115 PM EDT FRI MAY 28 2010

TO:        SUBSCRIBERS:
          -FAMILY OF SERVICES
          -NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
          -EMERGENCY MANAGERS WEATHER INFORMATION NETWORK
          -NOAAPORT
          OTHER NWS PARTNERS...AND NWS EMPLOYEES

FROM:      JASON TUELL
          ACTING CHIEF...PERFORMANCE AND AWARENESS DIVISION

SUBJECT:   SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENTS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15 2010
          ON PROPOSED CHANGE TO MIXED CASE AND EXPANDED
          CHARACTER SET IN ALL NWS TEXT PRODUCTS

REFERENCE: SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 10-28 ON USE OF UPPER AND
          LOWERCASE LETTERS IN NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION
          STATEMENTS...SERVICE CHANGE AND TECHNICAL
          IMPLEMENTATION NOTICES IN EFFECTIVE AUGUST 16 2010

BEGINNING MAY 28 AND CONTINUING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15 2010...
NWS IS SEEKING USER FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE ALL NWS
TEXT PRODUCTS TO INCLUDE UPPER AND LOWER CASE ALPHABETIC

INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE ALPHABET NO. 5 WOULD ALSO BE PERMITTED.

MANY NWS PARTNERS AND USERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR NWS TEXT
PRODUCTS /WATCH /WARNING /ADVISORY /STATEMENT /FORECAST
/ENVIRONMENTAL DATA/ TO BE PROVIDED IN MIXED CASE AND TO INCLUDE
AN EXPANDED PUNCTUATION AND CHARACTER SET. THIS CHANGE WOULD MAKE
TEXT PRODUCTS EASIER TO READ AND ALLOW USERS TO CLICK ON INTERNET
LINKS DIRECTLY RATHER THAN CONVERTING THEM TO LOWERCASE OR MIXED

PLEASE SEE SERVICE CHANGE NOTICE 10-28 FOR DETAILS ON RELATED
CHANGES TO PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS... SERVICE CHANGE NOTICES
AND TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION NOTICES WITH THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL
ORGANIZATION /WMO/ HEADING OF NOUS41 KWBC AND AWIPS IDENTIFIER OF
PNSWSH.  CHANGES TO THOSE MESSAGES PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A
RISK REDUCTION EFFORT IN A NON-OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND FOR

THE NWS IS SEEKING COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15 2010
AT /USE LOWERCASE/:

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=MIXED-CASE

NWS WILL KEEP THE SURVEY AND COMMENT FORM OPEN INDEFINITELY TO
TRACK USER ISSUES AND COMMENTS OF THIS TRANSITION. USER FEEDBACK
WILL HELP NWS BETTER PLAN THE EVENTUAL TRANSITION OF ALL NWS TEXT
PRODUCTS TO MIXED CASE AND EXPANDED CHARACTER SET.

ADDITIONAL NOTICES AND STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS USER FEEDBACK
IS ANALYZED AND PROGRESS IS MADE IN PLANNING FOR TRANSITION OF
OTHER NWS PRODUCTS.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS... PLEASE CONTACT:

HERB WHITE
NWS DISSEMINATION SERVICES MANAGER
1325 EAST WEST HIGHWAY
SILVER SPRING MD 20910
HERBERT.WHITE@xxxxxxxx
301-713-0090 EXT. 146

NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS ARE ONLINE AT /USE
LOWERCASE/:

 HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/OS/NOTIF.HTM

$$
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