Argos Joint Tariff Agreement

Argos is the product of a close and long-standing cooperation between the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States of America and the Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) of France.The first cooperation between NOAA and CNES for the implementation and the use of Argos is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in 1974 and the second in 1986. Under the MoU, CNES is responsible inter alia for the Argos data processing system. Service Argos, the CNES department in charge of Argos operations, was entrusted with performing that task.Since 1986, CLS provides services and processes Argos data.

• A “Tariff MoU” was adopted by NOAA and CNES on 14 December 1979.
  ln this MoU, NOAA and CNES agreed on Terms and Conditions covering user charges for platform location and data processing associated with the implementation and testing of platforms communicating through the Argos System. A Committee, with equal representation from NOAA and CNES, was established to review the Terms and Conditions as appropriate on a yearly basis.The objective of this cooperative effort was to provide fair, cost-effective and simple procedures for United States users of the system. Programmes eligible for the preferential tariff under this agreement were limited to those funded by the government and/or non-profit agencies. Users funded, even partly, by private companies or organizations could not be included in the agreement, even if the data were supplied free of charge to national or international organizations.
• In 1981, at WMO EC-XXXIII, the United States recommended that an international agreement be established to provide relatively inexpensive processing costs to all interested countries.
  The main motivation for this recommendation was to expand the World Weather Watch (WWW) in terms of surface pressure measurements in data sparse regions, with possible additional advantages of a more timely and accurate mobile ship programme and more information for the Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS). WMO convened the First Argos Joint Tariff Agreement (JTA) Meeting in Geneva (December 1981). Invitations were sent to all WMO Members. Nine countries participated and common Terms and Conditions, patterned after the U.S. agreement, were adopted under the name “Global Agreement”.
• In February 1984, IOC EC-XVII proposed, and WMO agreed to host the annual JTA meeting in turn with WMO.
  Beginning with the fifth meeting, and continuing today, the JTA meeting is served by the two Secretariats at once. The JTA has proven to be an effective, constructive and cooperative organizing and negotiating mechanism which has contributed significantly to the stability of the Argos system and its globally expanded applications.

• Representatives of Country (ROCs)

ROCs are representing a country or a group of countries from responsible government organizations using Argos. Their role is to ensure that the Argos system meets the basic requirements of all system user groups in the most cost-effective way within the principles of fairness, openness and the promotion of science.

• Responsible Organizations (ROs)

An RO is the Responsible Organization representing an agreed set of Argos User programs for the purposes of their collective participation in the JTA. The concept of RO can accommodate groups of countries such as E-SURFMAR, as well as large individual programmes as necessary or convenient. The functions of an RO are to of consolidated estimates of Argos usage for the annual JTA budget planning and negotiation of tariff Terms and Condition, to represent the collective interests of the User programs in respect of the Argos service provision and forward planning. An RO would also provide local support for Argos applications, and facilitate the interface between CLS Argos interface and the User programs for which the RO is responsible.

• Representative of a User Group (RUG)

A RUG is an individual who can fairly represent the overall consensus view of a significant Argos JTA user community. Such communities include the operators of data buoys, floats, ice platforms, animal tags, land stations, ship stations and airborne stations, or bodies with agreed international responsibilities for the promotion, sponsorship or validation of any aspect of environmental observation using Argos (e.g. IOC, WMO, WWF). The RUG will work with CLS and the JTA Executive Committee to identify opportunities that might bring the JTA session into closer contact with his/her user group, with a view to establishing within that group the benefits of the JTA process.

• The Argos Operations Committee (OPSCOM)

The OPSCOM was established by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States of America, and the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) of France, who affirmed their desire to conduct a space applications project of mutual interest for peaceful purposes. The OPSCOM in particular reviews the Argos Data Collection System development and implementation activities and recommends to the Project Managers and the signatories to the MoU appropriate measures for accomplishing the objectives of the project.

• The WMO and IOC Secretariats

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO recognize that satellite data telecommunication systems are important components for the implementation and sustainability of global environmental observing networks operated by the Members/Member States of the two Organizations in remote areas, including the global ocean. WMO and IOC endorse the JTA as one mechanism to address the requirements of WMO and IOC Programmes and Co-sponsored Programmes, in particular in terms of satellite data collection and related data processing, quality control, data encoding according to international standards, and data distribution to their end users.

• CLS Argos interface

CLS is the designated agent of the French space agency CNES to operate the ARGOS system ground segment and to promote the use of it. Those Argos basic services are provided at cost to the users under the oversight of the Argos Operation Committee (CNES, NOAA, EUMETSAT).