Energy and Climate

Tech companies are also planning to use new broadband infrastructure to power data centers with enormous processing capabilities for a variety of applications, including artificial intelligence. However, the data center buildout comes with economic and environmental risks for many communities, especially those in the southern parts of the U.S.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency now requires disaster survivors to register for federal aid using an e-mail address—a change from previous policy that made an e-mail address optional. While the move is intended to modernize and streamline the process of applying for disaster aid, it risks blocking vulnerable populations from accessing critical federal assistance in the wake of disasters. How does the move put disaster victims at risk, and what can communities—and FEMA—do to ensure folks can still get the assistance they need? 

Broadband grant awards are usually made for expanded or improved service, but recently, the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) awarded more than $1.25 million in disaster grants to restore high-speed broadband services in Lincoln County for communities hit by wildfires and flooding. The state’s $117 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation, designed to help with broadband access, will provide Penasco Valley Telephone Cooperative with $1 million and TDS Telecom with $251,300 through the New Mexico Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas Grants program. The b

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to launch a review of its system for collecting data on network outages and restoration during major disasters. This action will pave the way for reforms to the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System to make sure that its benefits outweigh its burdens. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking begins a thorough review of DIRS to modernize the system for reporting and proposes changes to reduce the reporting burdens on providers during disasters, while increasing the utility of the reports.

My Administration has inaugurated a golden age for American manufacturing and technological dominance. We will pursue bold, large-scale industrial plans to vault the United States further into the lead on critical manufacturing processes and technologies that are essential to national security, economic prosperity, and scientific leadership. These plans include artificial intelligence data centers and infrastructure that powers them, including high‑voltage transmission lines and other equipment. It will be a priority of my Administration to facilitate the rapid and efficient buildout of thi

The gutting of federal funding for public broadcasters is expected to cause hundreds of local station groups to significantly scale back or shutter across the country, of

Artificial intelligence has created a new digital divide, fracturing the world between nations with the computing power for building cutting-edge A.I. systems and those without. The split is influencing geopolitics and global economics, creating new dependencies and prompting a desperate rush to not be excluded from a technology race that could reorder economies, drive scientific discovery and change the way that people live and work.

Rep Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued a statement after the House passed nine bills from the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, Communications and Technology, and Energy Subcommittees: “Technological innovation creates jobs, enhances our national defense, and develops new products and methods of consumer protection that improve Americans’ everyday lives. The Committee on Energy and Commerce is working to advance legislation to achieve these goals and expand the use of abundant and reliable baseload power.

One big change coming from the current administration is that the federal government is shoving payments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency down to the States. The administration talked about completely closing FEMA, but recently said that they would keep the agency open in the future. But with the budget cuts that came out of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," it’s clear that the federal share for paying for disasters will go down, meaning the State share will increase.

With at least 120 people dead, including over 24 children, due to flooding in Central Texas, Fierce Network took a look at how the Big 3 operators are approaching emergency cellular coverage in the Hill Country region.