The North Carolina Department of Information Technology announced a $1 million notice of funding opportunity for the Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant program designed to strengthen local resiliency and provide high-speed internet redundancy for public and community institutions serving North Carolinians. The program provides funding for satellite “resilience in a box” tools to preserve essential communications when other networks go down during emergencies and natural disasters. The Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant will provide funding for eligible organizations, including state agencies, local government units, volunteer fire departments, and community anchor institutions—including schools, libraries, community colleges, and community centers—to purchase satellite internet equipment and installation materials for secure, dependable backup connectivity. The program uses state funds appropriated through the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant program. Applications are open statewide, but priority will be given to organizations operating in the 39 North Carolina counties designated in the Hurricane Helene federal disaster area, including Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey (including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) counties. Entities interested in participating must complete the NCDIT Application and Certification Form by Sept. 23.

This report details the experiences of rural first responders in Pennsylvania working with information communication technologies (ICTs) and digital networks. Through a series of focus groups and interviews with law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical service providers, and 911 center representatives, along with county officials and other local stakeholders, we explore the challenges and opportunities brought by digital communication technologies for the work of rural first responders. In rural Pennsylvania, mobile communication and high-speed data networks (“broadband”) are not universal, leading to dropped calls and dead zones for first responders and the public alike. Even when they are available, networks have performed sub-optimally. This report demonstrates how current communication networks fail rural Pennsylvania first responders in three ways: (1) technology, including access to communication networks and infrastructure; (2) labor, such as the extent to which first responders have to work harder to ensure connectivity or in moments without connectivity; and (3) resources, such as the necessary funding to access standard technologies. To unpack these dynamics, we explain four themes that arose from our interviews and focus groups: (1) technology availability and use; (2) interoperability and interconnection; (3) ingenuity; and (4) funding. Gaps in communication networks, affordability, and devices mean delays in service, delays in response, and ultimately, the compromise of the safety of the public and our first responders. To improve this situation, this report concludes with key recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to improve communication access for rural first responders.

Anthropic insiders' warnings that AI could end humanity in the next decade have members of Congress frantically seeking answers and trying to cobble together some kind of response. Federal lawmakers are at the "concepts of a plan" stage at this point, with congressional leaders showing little apparent urgency to mobilize. Some rank-and-file members in both parties say something must be done: "We should absolutely act, and act with urgency," said Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD). Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) wrote in a post on X that "Congress needs to convene a special session on AI and what the future of the U.S. looks like."

The White House, Congress and the country's leading AI companies have allowed AI to grow faster, stronger, more powerful and wildly lucrative (and dangerous), with no serious effort to control it or spread the benefits beyond the super-wealthy. It's not too late to change this. But if they all dither, duck or dance around it, the chances of AI worst-case scenarios will explode, likely early in 2027, according to people who truly understands AI. Yes, President Trump opposes regulation or bipartisan efforts. Yes, AI companies are obsessed with more money, more speed. But the politics are shifting fast: If you listen closely to Vice President Vance, you can hear rising worry. At this pace, toxic AI politics could force mind-changing that was unthinkable two months ago.

TikTok has rejected ads from Meta that call on TikTok and other tech platforms to join Meta in settling with U.S. state attorneys general in a landmark children's safety lawsuit. Part of Meta's historic multibillion-dollar settlement is contingent on its peers also agreeing to settle. Other tech firms have yet to publicly comment on their plans. Meta has been running a public campaign to encourage TikTok and YouTube to join its settlement through statements and advertisements. Snap Inc., which is notably not mentioned in its campaign, appears poised to settle. Meta argues it will face a competitive disadvantage if it's the only platform forced to add restrictions as part of a settlement. The company says it will pay an additional $5 billion, on top of the roughly $12 billion it has agreed to in its settlement, if other tech firms agree to the same terms.