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HR 3877 110th Congress House Labor and Employment 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

Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act

Introduced: October 17, 2007 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 14 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 30, 2007
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Oct 29, 2007
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H12130)
Oct 29, 2007
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)
Oct 29, 2007
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3877.
Oct 29, 2007
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Oct 29, 2007
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 29, 2007
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12130-12131)
Oct 29, 2007
Mr. Matheson moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 29, 2007
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 259.
Oct 29, 2007
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science and Technology. H. Rept. 110-411.
Oct 24, 2007
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 24, 2007
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 17, 2007
Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.
Oct 17, 2007
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now October 30, 2007

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1