government

The FCC started their Emergency Broadband Benefit Program this week as administered by USAC (with FCC oversight). This Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will deliver up to $50/month discount for broadband service and associated equipment rentals for qualifying low-income households. This program also aims to deliver up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands, and a one-time discount of $100 for the purchase of a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer for some households.

Continue Reading

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission was put in a position this week where they needed to issue a warning to citizens. May 12, 2021, at 9AM, the USCPSC released a warning: "Do not fill plastic bags with gasoline." The followed up with another warning: "Use only containers approved for fuel." Why, you might wonder, would anyone EVER fill a plastic bag full of gasoline?

Continue Reading

The Biden administration has officially backed calls to waive COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property protections for the sake of the public, saying the pandemic represents 'extraordinary circumstances' that require similarly extraordinary measures. Waiving the patent protections would boost production in developing countries.

Continue Reading

If you live in any of the states along the US West Coast, you're now covered by the US Geological Survey's ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system. The USGS announced the expansion today, explaining that the three states in the US most prone to earthquakes -- Washington, Oregon, and California -- can now deliver mobile alerts when an earthquake is about to strike.

Continue Reading

An FBI announcement made clear this late winter/early spring that fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards are illegal. If you make or buy a fake COVID-19 vaccination record card, wrote an FBI representative, "you endanger yourself and those around you, and you are breaking the law." Further, the FBI and HHS-OIG recommend that you do NOT post photos of your legitimate vaccine card to social media - people are using said photos to fake their own cards and commit fraud.

Continue Reading

The term 'PPE' is something we're all familiar with due to the important role this protective equipment has played during the pandemic. There is a downside to this personal equipment, however -- it is typically bulky, uncomfortable, and slows down your ability to work. That's why DARPA has announced a new project that seeks to revolution PPE for the battlefield with the development of 'PPB.'

Continue Reading

An approval was revealed this week by the FCC for SpaceX and their next wave of Starlink satellites. The approval was for a modification to the license SpaceX holds for deploying satellites to an altitude of 550 kilometers. Per the release, the FCC suggests that "Based on our review, we agree with SpaceX that the modification will improve the experience for users of the SpaceX service, including in often-underserved polar regions."

Continue Reading

The United States Air Force (USAF) has announced plans to update its Reaper drones in a way that makes them more capable against 'near-peer' threats. The plan comes from the USAF's Life Cycle Management Center, specifically its MQ-9 Program Office, which explains that the mission behind the drone platform is 'shifting' from one aimed at addressing extremist groups to one that may need to address near-peer threats.

Continue Reading

In a travel advisory update published today, the US Department of State 'strongly' recommended that all citizens 'reconsider' any international travel they have planned. The reason, according to a release from the agency, is the continued presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the risks related to COVID-19. With this update, the State Department will label around 80-percent of countries at 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' risk.

Continue Reading

DARPA has announced the recipients of its phase-one Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) contracts, an initiative that paves the way for future nuclear thermal propulsion spacecraft systems. In explaining the purpose of its DRACO program, DARPA says that current space propulsion systems aren't able to offer the 'rapid maneuver' capabilities it needs.

Continue Reading

It's no secret that Internet speeds vary wildly across the US and that 'high-speed' Internet access in some places isn't anywhere near actual high speeds. The FCC is working to collect 'comprehensive data' on broadband Internet availability across the United States and it needs the public's help to collect this information. How can you participate? All it takes is a mobile app.

Continue Reading

The CDC published its COVID-19 weekly review on Friday, revealing that as of the end of the week, more than 174 million vaccine doses have been administered in the US, including more than 66 million people who are now fully vaccinated. As well, the agency discusses the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the US and explains why it is important to 'remain vigilant.'

Continue Reading