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Skip Descant

Senior Writer

Skip Descant writes about smart cities, the Internet of Things, transportation and other areas. He spent more than 12 years reporting for daily newspapers in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and California. He lives in downtown Yreka, Calif.

Transportation

With the Growth of Highway Tolls Come Technologies to Help

Toll road systems are modernizing with seamless payment portals and other forms of tech, enabling new options to make controlling congestion easy — and generate revenue other ways, as gas taxes decline.

July 03, 2025
· Skip Descant
Artificial Intelligence

Oregon Tech Leaders See Impactful, Eventful Future for AI

AI has the ability to impact numerous areas of the public sector, from government to education, tech officials said during the yearly Link Oregon meeting. They are preparing for its possibilities and challenges alike.

July 01, 2025
· Skip Descant
Cybersecurity

To Drive Cyber Awareness, Show the Impact of an Incident

Information and security officers from Oregon educational institutions shared insight on making people within their organizations more cognizant of cybersecurity and developing appropriate cyber defense strategies.

June 27, 2025
· Skip Descant
Transportation

GIS Tool Helps Washington State Plan for EV Infrastructure

A new GIS-powered state planning tool brings together more than 100 data sets to offer officials and members of the public a detailed look at where electric vehicle charging exists, is already planned, and may be needed.

June 25, 2025
· Skip Descant
Civic Innovation

Baltimore Uses Blockchain to Target Blighted Properties

Ongoing work with Medici Land Governance has yielded a blockchain-enabled tool to aid in property searches and sales. The goal is to ease the transformation of thousands of vacant, abandoned or blighted properties.

June 24, 2025
· Skip Descant
Transportation

Could Tech Make Trucks Pay Fair Share to Use Highways?

Their proportions and weight mean heavy-duty trucks cause an outsized amount of damage to the nation's roads, experts said. Road usage charges could help introduce fairness and equity into how vehicles are charged.

June 18, 2025
· Skip Descant
Transportation

EVs Are On the Move, Regardless of Federal Roadblocks

Federal proposals to end purchase incentives for electric vehicles, and a presidential halt to California phasing out gas-powered cars, are rattling that transition, but may not halt it, experts said.

June 17, 2025
· Skip Descant
Broadband and Network

For Tribal Communities, Self-Owned, Open-Access Networks

Tribal communities are some of the nation’s least connected areas, making them fertile ground for innovative broadband deployments and tech. Speakers on a recent panel said open-access, tribe-owned systems may be best.

June 12, 2025
· Skip Descant
Transportation

In These Capitals, Electric Bike-Share Will Take on Cargo

Micromobility offerings in Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., will soon include electric cargo bikes capable of transporting up to 100 pounds. More device types and expanded infrastructure are intended to drive usage.

June 06, 2025
· Skip Descant
Transportation

Virginia DMV Modernization Will Let Residents Do More

In working with Kyndryl to replace its mainframe with the company’s MAX platform, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles looks to give visitors more options and have staff handle complex tasks.

June 02, 2025
· Skip Descant