Policy

In the wake of the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill, state and local government organizations find their digital equity efforts robustly funded, while many leaders at those levels are rolling out specific plans.

Live panels of experts from private, public and nonprofit sectors, organized by the nonprofit Connected Nation, convened this week to discuss what the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act means for the digital divide.

Education policy advocates say the bill provides crucial funding for K-12 Internet access necessary for online learning, which continues to be popular following last year's COVID-19 school closures.

Initially launched with nonprofits, government agencies and schools who helped identify people who needed it, the program is being offered more widely to citizens in need of Internet or devices.

Since widespread, pro-democracy protests in Cuba in July, and the Cuban government’s response to block Internet access to many Cubans, lawmakers and U.S. officials have proposed various strategies to expand Internet.

U.S. Congress members who represent Pennsylvania are split on Biden's infrastructure bill — some are enthusiastic about what it can do for the country, while others argue the legislation wastes too much money.

How virtual will courts be after COVID-19? In Oregon, Multnomah County Circuit Court is the only court with a fully virtual jury selection process. Stakeholders continue to examine the merit of other virtual court ideas.

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and representatives of CISA and the FBI Cyber Division discussed state and local cybersecurity supports, incident reporting law and larger anti-ransomware strategies in a House hearing.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designates broadband Internet access as an essential service and targets billions of dollars to close the digital divide.

The U.S. Senate should promptly approve President Biden’s nominations to the FCC, including new appointee Gigi Sohn, a longtime advocate for open Internet and restoring “net neutrality” regulations.

Furthering efforts to make Illinois an eco-friendly leader in battling climate change, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a package of incentives he said will boost the production of electric vehicles in the state.

Given widening gaps in K-12 student learning amid an influx of federal money for schools, reliable two-way communications between parents and teachers could help students forge relationships and stay engaged.

Several rural towns in Massachusetts have taken on millions in broadband-related debt. State lawmakers may allow the towns to use American Rescue Plan Act dollars to lighten the debt for taxpayers.

Lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice mailed a letter to Portland's city attorney and police chief recommending that all uniformed officers wear body cameras. Questions remain about how the cameras would be used.

ResourceX, which works on Priority-Based Budgeting, has pulled in a seed investment round right as the federal government is poised to pump billions of dollars in infrastructure funding into state and local government.

“The exciting nature of it is that it opens up so many opportunities for state and local innovation around this issue,” said Amy Huffman, policy director for the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

The recently-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act sets aside roughly $6 billion for grant awards meant to expand capabilities of U.S.-based battery research and development, looking to shore up the supply chain.

West Virginia has joined a broad, bipartisan coalition in writing to the Federal Communications Commission in support of its efforts to reduce illegal robocallers' access to legitimate phone numbers.