Policy

Officials in Harlingen, Texas, want to use $4 million to give all homes in the city basic access to the Internet. Officials note that the investment won't provide broadband-level speed.

Texas Republicans have largely welcomed the blockchain technology industry with open arms. But skeptics are concerned about cryptocurrency mining’s impact on the environment and energy grid.

Plus, the USDA plans to make $1.15 billion available to efforts that aim to bolster rural access to high-speed Internet; Montana makes a move to create its own statewide broadband map; and more.

The bill, which passed the Ohio Senate earlier this year, passed the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee yesterday. The legislation would make telecommunications fraud a fourth-degree felony.

Monte del Sol Charter School in New Mexico used federal distance-learning grants to build structures and pathways to accommodate classes outdoors, for example to teach students about gardening.

After receiving its part of an $8.6 million settlement from a pollution lawsuit, Woodruff Career and Technical Center in Bartonville installed 545 solar panels on its roof that will be part of a renewable energy class.

The Employment Development Department received massive scrutiny from California lawmakers yesterday. The agency, which manages the unemployment insurance system, has been slow to fix its many problems.

Microsoft suspects that Nobelium, the group of state-sponsored Russian cyber criminals responsible for the SolarWinds fiasco, is taking aim at suppliers and resellers of tech products, including cloud-based solutions.

Some of the unemployment system’s challenges include processing large numbers of claims, protecting people’s personal information and state lawmakers not knowing the extent of the system’s operational problems.

The U.S. Treasury Department has estimated the first six months of 2021 saw a total of $590 million connected to ransomware. In 2020, the number for the entire year was only $410 million.

Nadia Hansen concludes two years as CIO of Clark County, Nev., leaving behind a more human-centric department. In her next role, she will help support digital transitions for state and local governments worldwide.

States readying for the 2022 midterms will need to be prepared to push out truthful information to counteract the spread of fears and false narratives, and holdout states should adopt paper ballots.

A new report says schools are making more use of programs that monitor student devices for clues of suicidal ideation and self-harm, despite concerns about student privacy and the efficacy of such programs.

Electrification, congestion pricing and how streets are used could all greatly influence the future of transportation in cities, say speakers at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo.

If passed, the proposed legislation would prevent Internet providers from blocking, throttling or engaging in the paid prioritization of providing Internet service to Massachusetts residents.

Public-sector and industry leaders remarked on the future of work at the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo, saying remote should be the default to improve efficiencies and aid in recruitment.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown has stated his opposition to Facebook's cryptocurrency pilot program. He argues the company doesn't respond adequately when its products are shown to harm users.

Under the bill, private entities would pay hefty fines if they share residents' biometric data without consent. Such data would include fingerprints; voiceprints; facial geometry; and retina, iris and hand scans.