An AI industry expert called on Congress this week to pass comprehensive Federal legislation that covers a wide range of risks associated with the emerging technology, arguing that state and local government action to create AI-related laws will only stifle innovation.

With the 2024 presidential election quickly approaching, local election officials on Wednesday called on Congress for increased cybersecurity funding to update outdated IT infrastructure and help protect democracy.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it will allow E-Rate funding to be used for Wi-Fi on school buses beginning in funding year 2024 as the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program is set to sunset.

Maryland said it will use $69 million in Federal funding to provide internet access for roughly 15,000 underserved Maryland households.

Wanting to tackle its chronic absenteeism rate, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is developing a new early warning dashboard which will help educators identify students who may be at risk of not graduating and help schools direct resources accordingly.

Baylor University and McLennan Community College (MCC) have launched the Central Texas Cyber Range (CTCR), which aims to provide comprehensive research in cybersecurity and cyber resilience and training for the cybersecurity workforce to address critical  needs at the local, national, and international levels.

Amaya Capellán was appointed new state CIO and deputy secretary for the Office of Information Technology (OIT) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the end of July 2023. The former vice president at Comcast, the telecommunications and media conglomerate, understands her charter – digital transformation. As described by her immediate boss, Secretary of Administration, Neil Weaver, Capellán’s extensive experience in the private-sector will do her well in her new position.

A recent survey found that organizations victimized by ransomware attacks are increasingly deciding to pay the ransom demand to regain access to their systems and data. Those same organizations also are concerned that generative AI could enhance future attacks.

NAF, an education nonprofit, has launched a free web-based platform intended to expand access and opportunities for high school student by helping them gain professional experience and career skills.

New York Attorney General (AG) Letitia James has reached an agreement with Marymount Manhattan College (MMC), a private non-profit liberal arts college in New York City, to invest $3.5 million in data security to protect students’ online data.