Policy

A new bill co-authored by U.S. Rep. Jim Costa would provide up to $50 million in grants to regional universities to do things like expand local Internet service and create job training and apprenticeship programs.

A state initiative will use $6.5 million in federal funds to finish creating digital maps of New Jersey's 3,000 public and private schools, including interior and exterior layouts, doors and surrounding areas.

An initiative in Connecticut aims to expand programs at colleges across the state in emerging and in-demand fields such as cybersecurity, virtual modeling, software development and digital analytics.

At its core, a broadband advisory board is made up of individuals from different sectors who advise state broadband programs, governors or legislatures. However, not all advisory boards are the same.

Energy industry leaders and elected officials are eyeing West Virginia as the potential site of massive federal investments to support the White House's plan to decarbonize the industrial sector.

Digital privacy is a huge concern in the post-Roe world, one where women's bodies, or at least their uteruses, are increasingly considered community property in less enlightened states than California.

Lawmakers have introduced legislation that, if passed, would require all vehicles built after Jan. 1, 2024, that are registered in New York to include advanced safety technology, including speed-limiting capabilities.

The request came from the findings of a chip industry task force of government and business leaders, which issued recommendations earlier this month on how the state can be more attractive to the semiconductor industry.

The California Air Resources Board voted unanimously to phase out the sale of new fossil fuel-burning cars in the largest state in the nation, setting the stage for a wider adoption of electric vehicles.

The Editorial Board of the Charlotte Observer raises issues with body scanners installed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to detect guns, including false alarms and a lack of research about their effectiveness.

The mother of a 17-year-old student at a statewide online public school is suing the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association over its policy barring students in virtual schools from interscholastic athletics.

The proposed settlement would resolve claims that Meta violated its own privacy policy when it collected, stored and monetized the location data of Facebook users — even after they turned off location services.

Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington hosted a press conference this week about the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act, which will help fund technological research and science, technology, engineering and math education.

According to a survey this year by the Center for Democracy and Technology, student monitoring systems may be violating kids’ civil rights and disproportionately bringing scrutiny and discipline upon specific groups.

The Cullman Electric Cooperative is looking for new funding streams to expand Internet service into rural areas. Officials say partial service in some areas has complicated the funding application process.

With the Legislature's Aug. 31 deadline fast approaching, a handful of IT-focused bills are still under consideration. The bills range from CDT oversight of broadband projects to expanded data breach notification rules.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free speech advocacy group, has dinged the University of Massachusetts Lowell for banning students from sending or viewing "offensive" material online.

In Washington, Kelso School District is using a series of grants to buy iPads for special education students, subscribe to educational apps and train occupational therapists to use new applications and devices.