Federal Government

CARES. ARPA. IIJA. These bills and more have put billions into the state and local government market. We break down the major federal funding packages and how they’re being put to use.

Several balloons — two of which were shot down over North America — have certainly strained international relations, but you might not have guessed that there are a host of non-spy-related uses for the old-school tech.

Plus, the Rural Broadband Association submits a list of priorities to the new Congress; the Department of Defense and NTIA host a 5G challenge; the Texas Library Commission is collecting data about Internet speeds; and more!

The Department of Homeland Security has once again pushed back the deadline to get a federally compliant REAL ID. Officials say lingering problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic are to blame for the delay.

Congress is set to hear from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew next month about the company’s data sharing relationship with the Chinese government. The situation underscores the overall lack of federal data privacy legislation.

Cases before the U.S. Supreme Court raise questions of whether social media companies do too much or too little in the way of moderating online content. The decisions could mean big changes for companies and users.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology’s newly released framework provides organizations a pathway to use artificial intelligence technology in a way that reduces risk.

The app is called RecycleBot, an application software that tells users whether an item is compostable or recyclable by photo analysis, and it has already won several statewide and regional awards.

Law enforcement disrupted the digital infrastructure the ransomware group Hive uses to communicate with members, and stole decryption tools that it passed along to victims during a monthslong covert infiltration of the criminal network.

The attention on TikTok underscores concerns in Congress that its parent, ByteDance Ltd., could share information with Chinese authorities. It’s also part of a broader bipartisan focus on ways the U.S. can counter China’s rising strategic influence.

Plus, Michigan’s High-Speed Internet Office launches a $238 million grant program to support connectivity in unserved areas, new research examines steps needed to close the digital divide in Black communities, and more.

Top officials from the departments of Energy and Transportation reiterate that both the federal infrastructure law combined with the climate legislation can make U.S. transportation cleaner, greener and more equitable.

The Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Springfield Union Station is set to receive $3 million in federal funding. The money follows closely behind the $1.46 million state funding given to the center last year.

Fifty-four of the 56 entities eligible for year one federal grants applied, and 10 have fulfilled the second part of the process by submitting their cybersecurity plans. A notice of funding opportunity is expected year two in the spring.

Plus, local leaders in Phoenix have teamed up to tackle digital equity in the region, registration is now open for the NDIA's annual Net Inclusion event, some stakeholders want more time on the FCC map process, and more.

Congress has passed new legislation that would limit the sale of U.S.-owned high-tech companies to Chinese entities. The new rules would also limit government agency cooperation between the U.S. and China.

The Federal Aviation Administration blamed the outage on an issue with its Notice to Air Mission system, which is a crucial component of all U.S. civilian and military flights that alerts pilots to hazards or other issues.

An overview of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program’s goals, requirements, and other considerations.