Last April the Coast Guard asked for public comments regarding the need to
continue HF high seas weather broadcasts over single sideband voice,
facsimile charts and text messages over radiotelex.

After reviewing the public responses to their query and reading the
conclusions of the business case report on the subject, the Coast Guard has
decided to continue those broadcasts without interruption. The report,
which in a few days will be posted here
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/...-WX_notice.htm,
concluded that:

"The responding public collectively perceives that the USCG HF broadcasts
are essential to their safety. There is no viable alternative to the USCG
HF broadcasts because present alternatives are perceived by the public to be
out of financial reach. Also, marine weather forecasts available through
these alternative sources may not guarantee the same level of accuracy,
timeliness, and/or sufficiency as provided by the USCG HF broadcasts."

The Coast Guard still doesn't have funds necessary to replace all their high
power transmitters and some services will have to be cut (mostly their own
internal services), but they should now have the funds to replace the 20
transmitters used for weather broadcasts.

Good news.

Joe Hersey