Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act

Bill: 110-hr-3877
Sponsor: Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2]
Introduced: 2007-10-17 in the House
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Coal
Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Emergency communication systems
Energy
Mine safety
Research and development
Research grants
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Technological innovations
Wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: 
Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration, including grants, to accelerate the development of next generation mine communications and tracking technology systems.

Requires the Director to work with federal agencies and industry to evaluate areas of research and development that will be most promising in protecting miner safety.

Authorizes the Director, in establishing the program, to focus on the following communications and tracking system characteristics: (1) systems that are likely to work in emergency situations; (2) systems that work in coal mines, with special attention paid to deep underground coal mines; (3) systems that provide coverage throughout all areas of the mine; (4) hybrid systems that use both wireless and infrastructure-based systems; (5) functionality for two-way and voice communications; (6) systems that serve emergency and routine communications needs; and (7) the ability to work with existing legacy systems and to be quickly integrated.

Requires the Director to work with industry and federal agencies to develop consensus industry standards and standard reference materials for wireless communications in underground mines. Urges that the following issues be addressed: (1) the appropriate use of frequency bands and power levels; (2) matters related to interoperability; and (3) technology to prevent interference.


action_date: 2007-10-29
text: 
Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration, including the establishment of best practices, adaptation of existing technology, and efforts to accelerate the development of next generation technology and tracking systems for mine communications.

Requires the Director to evaluate areas of research and development and best practices that will be most promising in protecting miner safety.

Authorizes the Director, in establishing the program, to focus on the following communications and tracking system characteristics: (1) systems that are likely to work in emergency situations; (2) systems that work in coal mines, with special attention paid to deep underground coal mines; (3) systems that provide coverage throughout all areas of the mine; (4) hybrid systems that use both wireless and infrastructure-based systems; (5) functionality for two-way and voice communications; (6) systems that serve emergency and routine communications needs; (7) the ability to work with existing legacy systems and to be quickly integrated; and (8) propagation environment characterization, performance metrics, and independently derived validation tests to verify performance for standards development.

Requires the Director to: (1) work with industry and federal agencies to develop consensus industry standards for communications in underground mines; and (2) develop and provide any needed measurement services to support implementation of these standards. Urges that the following issues be addressed: (1) the appropriate use of frequency bands and power levels; (2) matters related to interoperability; and (3) technology to prevent interference.

Authorizes appropriations for carrying out this Act for FY2009-FY2010, to be derived from amounts authorized under the America COMPETES Act.

action_date: 2007-10-29
text: 
Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration, including the establishment of best practices, adaptation of existing technology, and efforts to accelerate the development of next generation technology and tracking systems for mine communications.

Requires the Director to evaluate areas of research and development and best practices that will be most promising in protecting miner safety.

Authorizes the Director, in establishing the program, to focus on the following communications and tracking system characteristics: (1) systems that are likely to work in emergency situations; (2) systems that work in coal mines, with special attention paid to deep underground coal mines; (3) systems that provide coverage throughout all areas of the mine; (4) hybrid systems that use both wireless and infrastructure-based systems; (5) functionality for two-way and voice communications; (6) systems that serve emergency and routine communications needs; (7) the ability to work with existing legacy systems and to be quickly integrated; and (8) propagation environment characterization, performance metrics, and independently derived validation tests to verify performance for standards development.

Requires the Director to: (1) work with industry and federal agencies to develop consensus industry standards for communications in underground mines; and (2) develop and provide any needed measurement services to support implementation of these standards. Urges that the following issues be addressed: (1) the appropriate use of frequency bands and power levels; (2) matters related to interoperability; and (3) technology to prevent interference.

Authorizes appropriations for carrying out this Act for FY2009-FY2010, to be derived from amounts authorized under the America COMPETES Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-10-30
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H12130)
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H12130)
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3877.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12130-12131)
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Mr. Matheson moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 259.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-411.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-411.
action_date: 2007-10-24
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-10-24
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-10-17
text: Introduced in House