Transportation

Americans depend on our national rail network in much the same way we depend on wireless networks: to connect communities and keep our economy running. But the two sectors have very different footprints on the map, leading to very different outcomes—and it is time railroads get the chance to catch up with the wireless marketplace. Over the past decades, private investment has transformed U.S. wireless networks into a largely seamless, nationwide system.

Which airline offers the fastest in-flight Wi-Fi? It’s a simple question with an increasingly important answer. As our lives become more “always connected,” the frustration of poor or non-existent connectivity becomes more acute. We have reached a point where the quality of in-flight connectivity (IFC) can be a decisive factor for passengers choosing flights and airlines based on their digital experience. For airlines, providing high-quality Wi-Fi is no longer just a perk—now it is a critical driver of passenger loyalty.

Sen Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation affording essential data privacy rights to vehicle owners across America. The Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act will give motor vehicle owners control over their personal data by outlawing its sale and collection by car manufacturers without drivers’ consent, and barring data sharing with adversarial nations such as China.

A group representing big railroads in Virginia has regained its right to sue the commonwealth over a recent law that attempted to streamline broadband internet access. But it apparently does not want to do so, for now at least.

The digital transformation of the auto industry has hit a speed bump: Slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption has delayed the rollout of intelligent, software-defined vehicles. Automakers are forecasting billions of dollars in recurring revenue from software and services that improve over time through constant updates. Automakers dream of being more like Apple, with an elegant operating system like iOS that enables the same digital experience across all their vehicles.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the federal government would take steps to hire more air-traffic controllers and spend billions of dollars to upgrade the nation’s aviation system. Duffy said he would ask Congress to fund upgrades to the technology underpinning the nation’s air-traffic control system, pointing to its reliance on decades-old copper wire, floppy disks and phone jacks. Duffy said he hadn’t made a decision about whether to use the Starlink satellite communications system to improve air-traffic-control technology.

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted final rules for cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology. These rules will improve transportation safety and permit more efficient mobility as this advanced communications technology is integrated into vehicles and infrastructure.

The same technology that puts artificial intelligence chatbots on your phone and computer is coming to the car. Having a powerful voice assistant at a time when you can't afford to take your eyes off the road could be enormously beneficial. Qualcomm announced it is bringing its next-generation Oryon processor to its in-car computer systems for both entertainment and automated driving. Generative AI in the car will ideally let drivers get help with everything from finding the nearest cheap gas to pointing out landmarks to understanding a dashboard warning light.

The Federal Communications Commission concluded in 2009 that AM radio was dying: Listeners under 35 were “almost non-existent.” Responding to lagging consumer interest, vehicle manufacturers began leaving AM tuners out of cars—especially in electric vehicles, where the tuners are subject to electromagnetic interference. So why, weeks ago, did the House Commerce Committee overwhelmingly pass a measure requiring manufacturers to include AM radios in all new vehicles?

Elon Musk may soon provide the Wi-Fi on your United flight. United Airlines said that it will outfit its entire fleet with Musk’s Starlink internet service, aiming to keep fliers loyal by offering zippier, more reliable browsing and downloads that the carrier expects will mirror what travelers are used to on the ground. United’s deal is a bet that Starlink’s technology can propel it above rival carriers in offering