Internet Access

Google’s High-Altitude Internet Balloons Could Soon Connect Rural Kenya

A Project Loon balloon.

If implemented, the project could have the potential of extending online connectivity to thousands of people across Kenya.

  • By Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz

State Sales Tax Collections Finally Move Into the Internet Age

The Supreme Court's ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair scraps a precedent that dates back to the heyday of mail order catalogs.

  • By Bill Lucia

Mozilla Is Developing a Voice-Controlled Browser

"Hey, open a new tab!"

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

DISA Plans to Change How Pentagon Employees Browse the Internet

Officials are looking to isolate the internet from agency networks by pushing web browsing to the cloud.

  • By Jack Corrigan
An Iranian man surfs the Internet at a cafe in Tehran, Iran. An Iranian man surfs the Internet at a cafe in Tehran, Iran.

Google and Amazon’s Move to Block Domain Fronting Will Hurt Activists Under Repressive Regimes

Tech companies believe there is a security concern.

  • By Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz
Burning Man participants walk on the playa at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev. Burning Man participants walk on the playa at the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nev.

Interior Wants Wi-Fi for Burning Man

Even temporary cities/arts festivals need networks for government and law enforcement operations.

  • By Aaron Boyd

White House Wants Regulators to Keep Hands Off Tech Industry

National security and economic growth depend on a free and open internet, U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios said.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Preemption Battles Continue as Cities Look to Improve Internet Connectivity

From Georgia to Texas and Colorado, city halls are trying to fend off state efforts to assert control over local rights of way.

  • By Timothy B. Clark

14 Gigabit Projects in 5 Cities Get Mozilla Money

The winning initiatives leverage high-speed internet along with everything from virtual reality to GIS to better local education and workforce opportunities.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Privacy Tool Makes It Harder For ISPs To Track You

It speeds up your internet as well.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

Facebook's Ideological Imperialism

Andrew Bosworth’s memo may seem insidious, but its logic used to be very popular.

  • By Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic

Local Officials to FCC: We’re Not the Ones Impeding 5G

A group of mostly mayors encouraged the Federal Communications Commission to refocus its efforts on new broadband investment, instead of preempting their oversight of public rights of way.

  • By Dave Nyczepir
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, center left, and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, right, arrive before a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation hearing on infrastructure on Capitol Hill. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, center left, and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, right, arrive before a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation hearing on infrastructure on Capitol Hill.

Trump Administration Mum on Nationalizing 5G

The proposal is still on the table, according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, though localities may find their authority on public rights of way preempted regardless.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

5G Faceoff on Capitol Hill

Localities want more of a say in broadband policymaking. The U.S. wireless industry wants to win its race with China.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

If War Comes, Russia Could Disconnect from the Internet. Yes, the Entire Country

Robust internal networks will keep the military and government operating, says Putin’s top IT advisor.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One
An Indian woman looks at her mobile phone as she carries red chillies on her head at a farm at Shertha village near Gandhinagar, India, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018. An Indian woman looks at her mobile phone as she carries red chillies on her head at a farm at Shertha village near Gandhinagar, India, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018.

USAID Launches Program To Bring More Women Online

The WomenConnect Challenge is offering $1 million to projects that address why women in low- and middle-income countries are offline.

  • By Jack Corrigan

For 10 Years, I Read the Comments

Farewell to my stressful, dispiriting, but occasionally awesome life as an internet comment moderator.

  • By Alan Taylor, The Atlantic
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, center, sits next to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, left, and Commissioner Michael O'Rielly. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, center, sits next to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, left, and Commissioner Michael O'Rielly.

House Passes Bill Strengthening Powers of FCC CIO

The bill would reauthorize the Federal Communications Commision, encourage broadband development and make some changes to the commission’s oversight.

  • By Jack Corrigan

A New Company Is Taking Remote Work’s Flexibility to the Extreme

In the digital age, if you have the freedom to work anywhere, why not try to go somewhere?

  • By Corinne Purtill, Quartz
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., pauses before testifying during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., pauses before testifying during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Congress Mulls a CIO's Authority, Future of Homeland Security and Data Breaches

And one caucus is concerned about climate change data vanishing form federal websites.

  • By Heather Kuldell, Joseph Marks and Jack Corrigan