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The newest generation in wireless networking represents a major boost in both capacity and speed, opening the door to transformative public services. But the technology is both costly and controversial even as states and localities begin to legislate and regulate around 5G.
Simon Peters, an eToro crypto analyst, said of bitcoin’s 5 percent increase to over $10,400. The increase happened just after the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said “Every major central bank is currently taking a deep look” at cryptocurrency options. Bitcoin has increased 44 percent since the beginning of 2020. (Business Insider — February 12, 2020
The price that Amazon paid for the Old Chicago amusement park and megamall site, which will probably be refitted for a fulfillment or customer service center, though Amazon hasn’t yet confirmed its future function. “This land purchase in Bolingbrook provides us with the flexibility to quickly respond to our future network needs.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department is spending $1.2 million for an electric fire truck, which will be able to run for two hours on electric power before using diesel. The fire engine will hit the streets next year.
Kingsburg, Calif., expects to build a call center for the newly merged T-mobile, Sprint company that foresees employing more than 1,000 people. The center hopes to be fully staffed and operational by 2022.
Madison, Wis., proposed an ordinance that would make electric vehicle (EV) charging stations easier to install and, by extension, encourage more residents to buy EVs. “It’s an investment in the future.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved deployment of 5,000 driverless, electric delivery vehicles on California streets, reviving debate in Congress over need for regulation of autonomous transportation.
Big tech companies like Amazon and Apple are building Culver City, Calif., into a media hub and the city is wondering if the business tax needs a fresh look. While a tax bump would increase revenues, it raises the risk that some businesses would leave.
It gets harder from here. Getting modernization efforts right and avoiding project failures requires that the people at the top of an organization feel comfortable with technology.
It shouldn't be just for announcing meetings, holiday office closures or road construction. Local governments should see platforms like Twitter and Facebook as powerful tools for building community, not just posting city hall selfies.
Once hailed for innovation and transformation, the tech industry is in the midst of a backlash. With growing public concern over privacy and the threat to existing jobs, expect to see more government regulation.
Amy Keating, chief legal officer for Mozilla, said of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to repeal Obama-era net neutrality regulations. The regulations were again denied last month by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. (The Hill — February 7, 2020)
The amount that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wants its customers to pay as a reimbursement for the company’s fire-prevention work that it has done in response to extreme weather and large wildfires over the past several years. The amount would translate to increased monthly bills by about $5 or $10 for about two years for the average customer. The California Public Utilities Commission still has to respond to the utility’s request.
Stamford, Conn., began using an electronic vehicle-immobilization device, ‘Smart Boot,’ a year ago to make drivers pay for their parking tickets. Since implementation, there has been a drastic increase in payments.
Louisiana has been the target of several cyberattacks over the past few months and the state has worked urgently to figure out how to protect itself. Measures may go beyond stronger cybersecurity systems.
Clearview AI stands apart from other facial recognition companies because it pulls photos from commercial sites, like Facebook and Twitter, for its image database. Some are concerned by the company’s access.
Seattle University is offering a free, online class for public leaders to explore ethics in AI, impacts of AI on the workforce, and how the technology might best be regulated. The class is part of a Microsoft initiative.
A new study details dramatic economic benefits and large cuts in carbon emissions for California from the impact of electric vehicles over the next 10 years. Other states can profit from the lessons learned.
What started off as a wrong turn has turned into a home and career for Chris Cabaldon. Through innovation and risk, he has been able to help change West Sacramento into the thriving community it is today.
The office of U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley wrote in its plan to “overhaul the FTC and bring it into the 21st century.” The senator is concerned that the FTC hasn’t intervened enough as big tech companies continue to amass power and gain dominance over other smaller companies. (The Hill — February 10, 2020)
The duration of British Airways Flight 112 that traveled from New York City to London, England, setting a new record for fastest subsonic transatlantic commercial flight. Due to strong winds, the plane was propelled at ground speeds of 800 miles per hour for certain periods throughout the flight. “We always prioritize safety over speed records, but our highly trained pilots made the most of the conditions.”
Chula Vista, Calif., has been using drones to help its police, and the results have been positive. The drones are only used for 911 calls, not general surveillance, and the department is transparent in disclosing its data use.
Officials gathered in Manchester, N.H., to discuss the possible, positive implications of technology in the workforce. Technology can be a net gain for the workforce, as long as we ensure it doesn’t widen economic gaps.
While 5G is supposed to be revolutionary when it comes to the telecommunications industry, it might have negative impacts on community life. From aesthetics to health, community concerns are driving the push back against 5G.
Cybercriminals are targeting the often outdated security precautions of state and local governments as evidenced by the increasing rates of ransomware attacks. Experts caution they’ll only stop once cybersecurity measures get better at the local level.
With electronic voting and vote-counting machines susceptible to hacking, paper ballots ensure recounts are possible – and accurate.
At the Public Sector CIO Academy, experts from the public and private sectors provided insight into what IT leaders need to think about when considering data collection and sharing aimed at benefiting residents' lives.
While state election officials said they were generally satisfied with the support they were receiving from the Department of Homeland Security to secure election infrastructure, problems remain with planning efforts.
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Cities are evolving faster than ever. By engaging in an open mobility ecosystem model, cities can more efficiently power their ecosystem today and drive sustainable innovation for tomorrow.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said regarding Google’s delay tactics in an antitrust investigation. In September, Texas announced its investigation, supported by 49 other attorneys general, into the big tech company for its ad business and other complaints of anti-competitiveness. Now, AG Paxton is saying that the state won’t back down from the fight, even if it requires more serious measures. (CNBC — February 5, 2020)
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