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Article: The Weather Service Forecast: New Limits; Private Firms Fear Rising Competition
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 18, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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From the National Weather Service, the forecast for the New York
Mets' home opener: scattered showers over Shea Stadium, with heavier
rainfall expected to hold off until after the game. "THIS FORECAST
WILL BE UPDATED LATER THIS MORNING. GO METS!" the statement read.
The April 3 announcement seemed innocent enough, but it angered
commercial forecasting companies, a $250 million- to $300 million-a-
year business. They saw it as unwelcome competition--an attempt by
the weather service to provide for free the information they sell.
The weather service acknowledged that the "site-specific" forecast
violated its policy and says it took action. But now Congress has
gotten involved.
The House has ...