New regs for Wednesday: Cellphones, miners, trucks

Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for cellular service providers, truck drivers and miners.

Here’s what is happening:

Cellphones: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving forward with new rules for cellular service.

“These updated rules will allow cellular licensees to deploy advanced mobile broadband services such as long term evolution (LTE) more efficiently,” the agency said Tuesday.

The rules go into effect in 30 days.

Miners: The Department of Labor is reviewing mining safety rules.

The Labor Department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration proposed Tuesday to extend an information collection request that allows it to review the effectiveness of physical fitness requirements for hoist operators inside mines.

“The safety of all metal and non-metal miners riding hoist conveyances is largely dependent upon the attentiveness and physical capabilities of the hoist operator,” the agency said.

“Improper movements, over-speed, and over-travel of a hoisting conveyance can result in serious physical harm or death to all passengers.”

The public has 60 days to comment on the information collection request.

Trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will consider exempting truck drivers who suffer from poor vision in one eye from rules that would otherwise prohibit them from driving commercial motor vehicles between states.

The FMCSA announced Tuesday it is reviewing applications from 21 truck drivers who would otherwise fail the vision requirement because they can not see well enough in one eye, even though their vision in the other eye is fine.

The public has 30 days to comment.

Video: The FCC is also proposing new rules for the video relay service program.

The public has until April 24 to comment.