Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) introduced legislation directing government scientists to pursue a wireless solution enabling underground miners to communicate with workers above ground during an emergency, like the one in the lawmaker’s home state in August in which nine lives were lost.
“The open air pathway required for radio signals and Wi-Fi often doesn’t exist in deep underground mines. Less than 10% of the radio spectrum that is used above ground can be used underground, and only a fraction of that is allocated for commercial communications purposes. We need to jumpstart the research, development and demonstration of this equipment,” said Matheson.
Matheson noted that roughly 1,400 underground coal mines operate in the United States. Most have focused on improving existing communications enough to survive a coal mine explosion, fire or collapse, but he said all have limitations.
“One of the most difficult aspects of the recent Crandall Canyon mine collapse in Utah was not knowing where the trapped miners were when the cave-in occurred,” said Matheson. “It made for an excruciating ordeal for the families, the mine owner, and the mine rescuers.”
The Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act, which has bipartisan support and was scheduled for considered today by the House Science Committee, would have the National Institute of Standards and Technology establish a research program and possibly make grants available to parties capable of developing a workable wireless technology as soon as possible.
