Route Fifty

FCC Acting Chair Urges States to Nix Local Broadband Restrictions

More than 20 states make it difficult, if not impossible, for municipalities to establish broadband service. “We have to embrace all kinds of solutions,” said Jessica Rosenworcel during a Route Fifty panel.

Nextgov

General Motors Licenses Neural Network Tech from National Lab

The artificial intelligence-driven system can design thousands of networks in hours instead of years.

Nextgov

GSA’s 10x Will Test 22 Innovative Ideas Suggested by Federal Employees

The government’s internal process and tech suggestion box received 250 project proposals.

Route Fifty

EPA Moves to Restore State Authority Over Auto Emissions

Federal regulators are seeking to undo a Trump administration policy aimed at limiting California’s sway over tailpipe standards.

Route Fifty

Supreme Court to Hear Case on Right to Carry Concealed Gun

The lawsuit challenging a New York law that restricts the ability to carry firearms outside the home would be the first major Second Amendment case heard by the court in a decade.

Nextgov

Federal Agencies Detail Russian Tactics Used in Recent Cyber Intrusions

The FBI, Homeland Security Department and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an alert on Russian government cyber tradecraft and mitigation techniques for targets.

Route Fifty

Republicans Unveil $568 Billion Infrastructure Proposal

GOP senators said that they’re ready to engage with Democrats and the Biden administration to work out a deal.

Nextgov

Lawmakers Propose More Than $100B for Federal Tech-Driving Investments

The Senate is set to consider the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act in the coming weeks.

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Existing Agency Threat Hunters Welcome CISA’s New Authorities 

For the Department of Education, proactive threat hunting means not just taking down questionable URLs but buying them up.

Route Fifty

House Lawmakers Form New Caucus of Former Local Officials

"If an issue is important to our local governments, it should be important to Congress, too," said one of the group's co-chairs.

Route Fifty

Policing the Police: Justice Department Launches Probe in Minneapolis

Derek Chauvin’s criminal conviction won’t solve systemic policing problems. Experts said the DOJ’s resumption of pattern or practice investigations can help spur local police reform.

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CISA Issues Deadline for Federal Agencies to Address Pulse Secure Vulnerabilities

The vulnerabilities led to the compromise of government agencies early last summer and, together with a newly disclosed flaw, continue to be exploited.

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Army Explores Equipping Robots with Living Muscle Tissue

A scientist from the Army Research Lab gave a glimpse into its early work with biohybrid robotics.

Route Fifty

Senators Grill Cabinet Secretaries on American Jobs Plan

The heads of environmental, transportation, housing and commerce departments laid out more details of the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan during a Tuesday hearing.

Route Fifty

Local Corrections Costs Rose by $25 Billion in Last 40 Years

But the coronavirus has ushered in creative lower-cost alternative jail programs that could last long after the pandemic, local leaders say.

Nextgov

DOD’s Deputy CIO Wants to Change the Conversation on IT

Danielle Metz, leader for the information enterprise, discusses the misconceptions about the office of the CIO, the ongoing Fourth Estate Network Optimization project and the importance of software modernization.

Route Fifty

Justice Department Defends Tax Mandate Provision in Covid Relief Bill

In a court filing, the department responded to a lawsuit filed by Ohio’s attorney general, who said the tax mandate was unconstitutional and encroached on his state’s financial decisions.

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White House Stands Down Coordination Effort on SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange Hacks

The leading cybersecurity official on the National Security Council shared lessons learned as agencies reach patching goals.

Nextgov

Survey: Large Contractors More Concerned Than Small Contractors About DOD’s Cybersecurity Certification Program

A new survey puts numbers on conflicting narratives about the small businesses perspective and issues of competition in the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification regime.

Route Fifty

The States that Make it Most Difficult to Vote

A report by the Center for Election Innovation and Research compares which states allow voters to cast absentee ballots by mail without an excuse and offer early in-person voting.