Author Archive
Chris Teale
Emerging Tech
Water-challenged state uses AI, satellites to find leaks
New Mexico will use artificial intelligence to monitor satellite images to identify leaks before they become major problems.
Infrastructure
USPS issues could undermine mail-in ballots, letter warns
The bipartisan letter raised several “ongoing concerns” that it warned could disenfranchise voters. In response, embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy rejected many of the issues listed.
Digital Government
North Carolina OKs the use of student digital IDs to vote
The narrow approval is just for students and faculty on the University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus. It comes as mobile IDs and driver’s licenses grow in popularity, but also as cyberattacks continue to rise.
Infrastructure
Is the effort to expand broadband nationwide going well, poorly, or just right?
A House subcommittee hearing highlighted various obstacles to implementing the $42.5 billion federal program to boost internet access.
Emerging Tech
Two years later, money from the CHIPS Act is moving
Now that more than half of the almost $53 billion federal investment has been spoken for, the real work has begun as state and local governments look to cash in. Here’s what experts say officials need to do.
Digital Government
Can states’ social media laws stand up to scrutiny?
Several states have tried to regulate the space in a bid to protect young people from the worst of the platforms. But whether their plans are workable, and can withstand legal challenges, remains to be seen.
Digital Government
Surgeon general says minors’ social media use is causing parental stress
Over the past two years, states have passed dozens of laws to protect young people from the worst of the platforms. Here’s how they’ve done it.
Emerging Tech
States move to protect recording artists from AI-generated likenesses
After Tennessee passed the ELVIS Act this past winter to protect an artist’s name, image and likeness from being used by digital replicas, other states are considering similar legislation.
Management
Dems highlight state and local leaders amid looming policy battles
A bevy of leaders from city halls and state houses highlighted what lies ahead in infrastructure, abortion and other areas during this week’s Democratic National Convention.
Emerging Tech
Does California's AI bill go too far or fall short? It depends who you ask.
The legislation requires developers of large AI systems to test if they can be used in various extreme scenarios. It has support as well as plenty of detractors in the state’s large tech community.
Cybersecurity
How two states have spent their share of the $1B in cybersecurity grants
With little precedent for such a big federal investment in cybersecurity, states have largely had to write their own playbooks on how to distribute the funds to local governments.
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Infrastructure
Cars that talk: Feds announce plan to accelerate connected vehicle deployment
The U.S. Department of Transportation aims to have vehicle-to-everything tech deployed nationwide by 2036, and said it will offer grants and support to help states get there.
Cybersecurity
How the nation’s largest school system keeps students safe
By thinking of physical and digital safety as the same, the New York City schools are preparing their systems for ever-evolving technologies.
Infrastructure
In states that banned ‘Zuckerbucks,’ election offices remain underfunded
Recent research found that most states that have banned private election donations have not made up any resulting shortfall in funding. Meanwhile, Congress is bickering over providing money.
Infrastructure
To build trust in elections, focus on the ground level, state leaders say
Elections officials need to get their message out locally amid heightened scrutiny, especially as AI-driven misinformation threatens trust in elections.
Infrastructure
‘Internet to go’ programs get a boost
The FCC recently voted to allow schools and libraries to use federal funds to support Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs, which caught fire during the pandemic. The efforts are viewed by some as a small, but critical, way to help close the digital divide.
Cybersecurity
Texas’ $1.4B settlement with Meta highlights the need for data privacy protections, experts say
Attorney General Ken Paxton secured an eye-watering sum for Facebook’s alleged misuse of facial recognition tech. But observers argue that states need to go further and put more teeth in privacy laws.
Cybersecurity
Using ‘mindfulness’ to train employees against cyberattacks
Ohio has launched a cyber range that promises a different curriculum for state and local employees than the standard, once-a-year cyber training most public employees get.
Infrastructure
Could an extension of the federal broadband subsidy be close?
A Senate committee advanced a $7 billion funding vehicle for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which expired at the end of May.
Emerging Tech
Policymakers move to get ahead of deepfake political ads
Several states already require that AI’s use in elections and campaigns be disclosed, but adoption is not universal. With the election on the horizon, efforts have increased to make sure voters can identify AI-generated content.
