It's Time To Connect the Rest of America
High-speed broadband is a vital part of our nation’s infrastructure, but more than 17 million rural Americans don’t have access, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Microsoft’s own data shows that about 157.3 million Americans don’t access the internet at broadband speeds. You can help close the digital divide and connect more Americans to educational, employment, and business opportunities to keep our economy growing.
Executive Briefings
Voices for Innovation’s Executive Briefings provide weekly updates on technology policy and news, including highlights from Capitol Hill, breaking tech news, clips of relevant articles from traditional and new media, and a roundup of thought leader quotes and tweets.
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Meeting Pandemic Challenges with Digital Transformation
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is hard to grasp. The loss of life has been staggering—a tragedy unmatched by anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes. Beyond the loss of life, the ...
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Learn more about the @FCC's new speed test app designed to help measure internet speeds across the country: https://bit.ly/2RKVIBn
Affordable broadband has the potential to transform the lives of the students and families living in East Cleveland. This project is a great example of the public-private partnership we are forging with our Airband Initiative. https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1379831148055048197
Learn how communities and organizations are working to close the #DigitalDivide for the 77 million Americans who don't have an adequate home internet connection: https://bit.ly/3dRzzbI
Due to its rapid expansion, SpaceX is only half a dozen launches away from global Starlink coverage: https://cnet.co/3d5vAta
Meet Robin Carnahan, President Biden's pick to lead the General Services Administration: https://bit.ly/3t5cF7d
NSA director, Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, spoke to the Senate Armed Services Committee on the nation's #cybersecurity and how the agency is working to fix its blind spots: https://n.pr/39ZSakJ
Progress on these applications will do more than provide a spectrum license. It will provide Tribes with the ability to offer their communities something that is long overdue—full access to the opportunities of the digital age. https://go.usa.gov/xHgs7
"As Twitter made clear, the right to cut off speech lies most powerfully in the hands of private digital platforms."
Justice Clarence Thomas argues that tech companies should be regulated as utilities: https://bit.ly/2PNZlpe
What is SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet really like? John Kim from @CNET talks about his experience as a beta tester: https://cnet.co/3wkntjP
Hear from two VFI members and Microsoft partners on how they helped customers meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with digital transformation: https://bit.ly/3d4nZe2
.@washingtonpost explains how President Biden's infrastructure package could address electric grid cybersecurity: https://wapo.st/2PmtHPL
Learn which FCC efforts are designed to expand #broadband access for schools: https://bit.ly/3sLCZDd
As more places start to consider whether people should have to show digital proof of a #COVID19 vaccination or negative test results, New York became the first state to roll out a vaccine verification app: https://cnn.it/3cJvve9
.@POTUS' infrastructure plan includes $100 billion for #broadband expansion and calls for 100 percent coverage by the end of the decade. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2PVEUGw
Sen. @MarkWarner discusses the SAFE TECH Act and why he believes there's a need for Section 230 reform: https://bit.ly/3coG2ve
Former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler told Congress what he believes should be done to expand #broadband access to all Americans: https://bit.ly/3rqowuX
"Americans' rush to move all aspects of their lives online during the pandemic — classes, meetings, legal proceedings, shopping and more — left many vulnerable to exposure, exploitation and fraud."
Learn more from @axios: https://bit.ly/31mNJvI
State and local governments are struggling with an increase of #cyberattacks, and the Department of Homeland Security is eager to empower states to be their first own best line of defense: https://wapo.st/2QHPq4R
Since last June, @Microsoft and @LinkedIn has helped over 30 million people worldwide gain access to digital skills. This year, we’re expanding our vision, and committing to a new promise to help 250,000 companies make a skills-based hire in 2021. https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2021/03/30/building-a-more-inclusive-skills-based-economy-the-next-steps-for-our-global-skills-initiative/
.@JRosenworcelFCC says that a mix of technologies, including #5G, will be needed to achieve universal #broadband in the US. https://on.wsj.com/3cnzFse
Voices for Innovation on Capitol Hill
Voices for Innovation members came to Washington, DC to meet with their members of Congress and the House Small Business Committee and advocate for 21st century technology policies.
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Rights and Responsibilities When It Comes to Data Privacy Privacy is recognized as a fundamental human right by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and many other treaties. Data-driven innovations and services should (...)
Technology Brings Internet to Underserved Communities Though the United States is a global technology leader, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 2019 broadband report indicates that more than 21 million Americans lack access to high-speed internet, including nearly 17 million people in rural communities. (...)
About
Voices for Innovation (VFI) is a Microsoft-supported community of technology professionals and everyday Americans committed to advancing discussions about the most important technology policies. As citizen advocates, we champion public policies that foster innovation, support business growth, and enable technology to address societal challenges.