Federal

Rep. Weber Introduces Securing Every Vector, Enhancing Networks Act

Reps. Randy Weber (R-TX) and August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced the Securing Every Vector, Enhancing Networks (SEVEN) Act, a bill designed to strengthen America’s defenses against cyber threats targeting the Signaling System 7 (SS7) telecommunications protocol. The legislation aims to address these vulnerabilities by coordinating efforts across the government and creating a task force of cybersecurity experts to develop solutions. 

FCC Launches New Maternal Health Mapping Platform

The Federal Communications Commission announced the launch of a major update to the Mapping Broadband Health in America platform, expanding its capacity to analyze the intersection of broadband connectivity and a range of critical health outcomes, including new variables to better examine maternal health.

Connectivity and Maternal Health

In 2022, President Joe Biden (D-DE) signed the Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act, which directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to “incorporate publicly available data on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity into the agency’s Mapping Broadband Health in America platform, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” The bipartisan bill was introduced in 2021 by Sens.

Jessica Rosenworcel looks back at her term as FCC chair

A Q&A with Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. When President Biden nominated her to lead the FCC in 2021, she was the first woman confirmed by the US Senate to serve as a permanent chair of the agency. "It was the height of the pandemic. When I was sworn in as chairwoman, I had to stand outside on the street because we had limited access to the building. You know, it was a strange moment in our history. But it was also a moment that proved just how important it is to close our nation’s digital divide.

Women came to dominate tech policy. Soon many will lose power.

Women have exerted historic levels of influence over technology policy in the past four years, holding prominent roles across the federal government and overseeing major issues including artificial intelligence, antitrust, chip manufacturing and internet connectivity. The Republican sweep in this year’s elections, coupled with at least one key retirement, is poised to usher many out of power—with men set to step in. Incoming changes in the Trump administration represent a setback for women’s representation in top tech roles in government after it had reached unprecedented heights.

The New Administration’s Approach to Telecom

The next four years of telecommunications policy will be unlike anything Wall Street and other stakeholders have ever seen, according to one long-time analyst and former Federal Communications Commission staff member who has seen his share of changes and administrations over the past three decades. “The questions for investors are, what does the President want to have happen, and then how does that get implemented? How do the governors react to that?” said Blair Levin, U.S. Policy and Regulatory Advisor, New Street Research.

Musk faces early test of political power with online safety bill

Elon Musk’s eleventh-hour support for a child online safety bill is creating an early test of the tech billionaire and Trump ally’s influence on Capitol Hill. Musk called for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)—a polarizing bipartisan bill intended to create more protection for minors online—after his social media platform, X, worked on changes with the bill’s Senate sponsors. Advocates for KOSA

The Great Upheaval

Governance, media, business and global geopolitics are all being reordered at breakneck speed—all simultaneously.

The MAGA culture war comes for Silicon Valley

President-elect Donald Trump is taking Washington’s war against Big Tech in a sharp new direction, naming a trio of federal leaders expected to bring conservative culture-war issues to the center of the debate over tech monopoly power. Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew Ferguson joins Gail Slater, a JD Vance adviser whom Trump recently nominated to the top antitrust job at the Department of Justice.