Policy

Politically powerful AT&T, a very generous contributor to legislators' campaign kitties, opposes the governor's plan. So does the cable TV industry. They object to the state creating competitors.

Last week, the Ohio Senate removed all broadband funding from the state budget. Commissioners in Scioto County, Ohio, believe this decision overlooks the very real connectivity problems that local areas face.

Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law that commits $5.4 billion toward state transportation projects, including more charging infrastructure and incentives for residents to purchase electric vehicles.

Now that Massachusetts is no longer in a state of emergency, ride-share companies and drivers can charge higher prices for rides. A state law prohibited surge pricing during the pandemic.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced California will launch a digital vaccine verification system. While details on the system haven't been revealed, some experts have voiced concerns about privacy and transparency.

Years ago, Albuquerque, N.M., installed a red light camera system that was unpopular and eventually canned. The city is now considering a new camera system that would only target vehicles moving at dangerous speeds.

While so-called sandbox programs do draw in new businesses and industries to a state, some fear that companies will use the opportunity to take advantage of consumers with unfair lending practices and the like.

Recent high-profile cyber attacks against prominent U.S. companies have packed a charge behind efforts to craft more meaningful federal cyber policy. Experts, however, say this is easier said than done.

Ohio Republican lawmakers are trying to strangle municipal broadband programs in Ohio and hold up $190 million in proposed state funding to expand high-speed Internet to underserved areas of the state.

A Texas bill proposes creating a volunteer cyber incident response team. Other states have tried their own efforts to harness volunteer talent, discovering strong practices and pitfalls along the way.

A new collaboration between the Technical College System of Georgia, the Technology Association of Georgia, the state department of education and Amazon Web Services wants to train a future workforce in cloud computing.

The state’s Department of Banking issued an industry notice last week to let state-chartered banks know that they have the authority to provide custody services for virtual currencies, like bitcoin.

Proposals in the House, along with the separate legislation introduced in the Senate, would lead to the biggest reform of competition laws in the U.S. since the first antitrust rules were passed in the late 19th century.

With the federal government unwilling to take the politically charged step of creating or endorsing a universal digital health pass or app, several companies are trying to fill the void.

The use of telehealth appointments exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the state Medicaid programs that began paying for phone visits are weighing how to proceed as people return to normal appointments.

The Ohio General Assembly is preparing to vote on the structure and timeline for mandating computer science for K-12 students. A committee will reconcile the House bill with a Senate bill later this month.

When police overuse DNA databases and facial recognition, they violate rights, often disproportionately. Policy should limit use of DNA databases and facial recognition to cases involving significant danger to society.

Having received one of the largest funding allotments in New York state from the American Rescue and Recovery Act, Syracuse City School District's priorities include summer learning and a virtual high school.