Policy

Plus, North Carolina is investing millions in broadband, legislation has advanced in U.S. Congress to assess satellite broadband in the Appalachian region, AI is impacting wireless network demand, and more.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who took office in January, wants more public safety tools to protect stops and stations, and a better user experience. She has ordered officials to come up with a plan.

At least 130 education bills were introduced this session, including one to restrict student use of personal electronic devices, and one requiring the state to develop guidance and best practices for AI use.

Making sure that regular utility customers don’t get stuck bearing the burden of paying to run data centers is a main goal as state regulators consider the impacts of the energy-intensive facilities.

Members of the House passed a bill requiring data centers to pay for increased costs associated with their energy demands. The proposed legislation now heads to the state Senate.

Officials say a new Kansas law is drawing data centers to the state as details emerge about a possible new hyperscale campus in Leavenworth County in the broader Kansas City area.

Officials in Weld County, Colo., will consider code amendments that would allow data centers in industrially zoned areas. Interest could provide an “economic opportunity,” a commissioner said.

The third part of the district's five-year, $609 million bond proposal would pay for devices and network and software investments, including money for cybersecurity supports and testing.

The Trump administration has released its national legislative framework for AI technology. If enacted, it could pre-empt state regulations in certain areas but maintain some authority elsewhere.

Many public schools in Kansas already had policies restricting device usage during the school day, but policies that allow for limited screen time during lunch and passing periods will have to be updated.

Plus, new legislation would revive the FCC’s equity council if enacted, a report reveals connectivity gaps in tribal communities, some municipal broadband networks outperform their competitors, and more.

The legislation, proposed Wednesday by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, would compel AI chatbot developers to “exercise reasonable care” in designing and operating systems to prevent “reasonably foreseeable” harm to users.

The Colorado AI Policy Work Group has developed, and now approved, a framework for changes to the state’s landmark legislation establishing consumer protections related to AI. Transparency is a priority.

The Ohio House is expected to vote Wednesday on House Bill 646, which would create a Data Center Study Commission to better understand how these projects affect local communities.

Fort Worth is now considering a tax break for Edged Data Centers, a subsidiary of sustainable infrastructure company Endeavour, for a data center to be developed near the city.

Drawing on feedback from hundreds of stakeholders, a new report outlines how the Institute of Education Sciences is too slow, too scattered and not practical enough for educators working in modern classrooms.

The public has come to expect autonomous vehicles to be perfect drivers. But if that safety bar is too high, where should it be set, experts considered at a recent national safety forum.

Senate Bill 707 mandates that larger cities and counties provide options for remote participation in public meetings by July 1, among other requirements related to translation and teleconferencing for elected officials.