NOAK48 PASN 151939 PNSSNP AKZ195-160100- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST PAUL AK 1139 AM AKDT THU JUN 15 2017 ...Discontinuation of Marine VHF Radio Broadcasts in Alaska Region on August 1, 2017... Effective August 1, 2017, the National Weather Service (NWS) Alaska Region plans to discontinue all voice marine weather broadcasts via VHF radio. Marine weather and forecast information will continue to be available on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR), which also broadcasts in the VHF radio band. These NWR broadcasts are an improvement over the voice VHF broadcasts because they provide continuous and more comprehensive weather information. Originally, VHF voice broadcasts were performed not only to disseminate marine weather information, but to receive weather observations from mariners. With improvements in technology (NWR, smartphones and the Internet), WSOs have observed an apparent decline in the number of VHF users, and a tremendous decline in the number of weather observations received from mariners during these broadcasts. For these reasons, and because NWR already provides observations and marine forecasts 24x7, the NWS in Alaska Region plans to discontinue the VHF broadcasts. WSO St Paul is currently scheduled to perform daily VHF broadcasts on channel 9 at 0600 and 1630 local time. These broadcasts will be discontinued as of August 1, 2017. On or before that date, mariners are encouraged to access NWR broadcasts using the station listing provided in the following URL. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/stations.php?State=AK If you have comments or questions, please contact: Angel Corona Acting Chief, Systems Operation Division Email: angel.corona@noaa.gov National Weather Service, Alaska Region Headquarters Anchorage, AK 99513 Work 907-271-5119 National public information statements are online: http://www.weather.gov/os/notif.htm $$ MRC JUN 17