Elon Musk’s control of space is even more entrenched than it seems. What dangers could that lead to?

This week: Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), on the impact of President Trump 'ending' the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act and how advocates can fight to restore it.

A sweeping preemption provision tucked into a federal budget bill would be a major step backwards in AI policy.

In response to X user queries about everything from sports to Medicaid cuts, the xAI chatbot inserted unrelated information about “white genocide” in South Africa.

In an open letter, the senators expressed concerns that the Trump administration may be offering countries tariff relief if they do business with Elon Musk.

In his tour through the Middle East this past week, President Trump announced major agreements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that will see billions of dollars in American AI chips sold to the Gulf states for installation in what will be some of the world’s biggest data centers, happily collocated alongside gigawatts of cheap Gulf power constructed quickly and without all those pesky American environmental obstacles. The chip companies love it. The AI companies love it. The sheikhs love it. But is it good for the United States?

I’ve been reading dire headlines coming out of Kentucky related the operation of the 3,200 KentuckyWired statewide middle-mile network under the administration of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA). Headlines have been warning about a shutdown of the network due to a dispute between KCNA and Accelecom, a for-hire operator of the network. KCNA terminated…

Democrat Gomez condemned the approval as a 'backroom deal.'

Grays Harbor PUD says it’s getting to work leveraging a $7 million grant from the Washington State Broadband Office to expand affordable fiber access in the South Elma, Porter, and Cedarville areas of the Evergreen State. Grays Harbor PUD was one of 16 Washington utilities chosen by the Washington State Broadband Office to receive grant funding during awards first announced back in 2023.

The collaboration strengthens Harmonic’s mission to empower broadband operators through its Open ONU approach, according to Harmonic.

Verizon has pledged $5 billion over the next five years to support small business suppliers across the US, through the launch of its new Small Business Supplier Accelerator.

Trump’s first few months back in the Oval Office have been a concerted effort to assert authoritarian control.

In the wake of the 2024 election results, the Open Technology Institute (OTI) has closely observed the direction of U.S. tech policy under a second Trump presidency. OTI is a program that envisions all Americans having access to technology and its benefits. Underlying this vision are principles of openness and privacy. We hoped this administration would continue to uphold some of the basic principles that have steered the open web for much of its lifespan—openness, security, and innovation.

As part of New America’s Technology and Democracy programs, we highlighted five key tech policy directions—not tailored to a particular political party but instead focused on advancing fundamental policies that ensure emerging technologies serve the public good. We urged the Trump administration to prioritize:

In three years, air traffic controllers will move from tracking planes with handwriting on paper strips to computer terminals.

Is this finally going to be the year when the largest ISPs gobble up everybody else of size? There was big news in the industry on Friday when Charter announced it is merging with Cox Communications. Cox has over 6.5 million customers and the combined business will be the largest ISP that covers over 70…

Tesla has been branded a 'joke' after its long-awaited Cybertuck Range Extender has been delayed after promising a major upgrade to its vehicles.

BEAD rural broadband program changes may not happen until June or July. Senator Capito is the latest to weigh in against a major overhaul.

The Xiangguang Hats company from China’s southern Guangdong province is one exporter able to expand beyond the U.S. market.

It started when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on certain Chinese exports in 2018 during his first term. Xiangguang’s hats, which include baseball hats, trucker hats and cartoon bear hats with floppy ears, faced an extra 20% duties.

Back then, 40% of Xiangguang’s sales were to the U.S.

“But now, we sell mainly to South Africa, to big brands like supermarkets. So, our sales to the U.S. have dropped a lot — to about 15%,” Xiangguang owner, Wu Qizhen, told Marketplace at a recent Shanghai trade show.

The U.S. remains a major destination for Chinese exports but the market has been shrinking from 19% in 2018 to just under 15% last year.

Charter will acquire Cox Communications in a $34.B dealThe merger will create 'an industry leader' in mobile and broadband communications, the companies said< | The move will see the two cable operators combine into one company - Cox Communications - once the deal closes.

Charter Communications and Cox Communications, two of the largest cable companies in the U.S., have entered into an agreement to merge. 

Timnath, Colorado's new municipal network has announced they’ve lit up their very first subscriber in partnership with the city of Loveland’s Pulse Fiber municipal broadband network. Inspired by Pulse, the Town of Timnath entered into an intergovernmental revenue-sharing agreement with Loveland’s ISP in August of 2023. Tinmath receives 25 percent of the network’s gross income, with an expected 2 to 6 percent return on capital investment over 20 to 30 years. The network is expected to be paid off in 25 years.

Fiber’s upside is unlimited, and it delivers the vital and necessary infrastructure to support expanded economic growth.

A new project will provide more than 1,500 homes in Clallam County, Washington with access to Astound’s fiber-to-the-home network.