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Trump signs executive order to boost broadband internet development in rural US
Tech Republic reports that “the executive order may help bring internet to previously hard to reach areas, something several ISPs have been working towards.” “A more connected country”, author Olivia Krauth reports, “could have several business implications. It would open a new market for ISPs and may be easier for advertisers to reach these audiences. It could increase options for remote workers, whether they live in a rural area, traveling, or are doing field work.”
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Senate will force vote on overturning net neutrality repeal
As reported by The Verge on Monday, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) has mustered the 30 votes necessary to force a vote on the FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) announced that she’s signed onto Markey’s request to overturn the new rules, under the Congressional Review Act — which lets Congress nullify recently passed regulations with a simple majority.
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ONC names Kathryn Marchesini as its new CPO
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has named Kathryn Marchesini as its new chief privacy officer.
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Electronic toymaker VTech reaches $650K FTC settlement over child privacy rule violations
As originally reported in USA Today, “Electronic toymaker VTech Technologies got a costly learning experience Monday — a $650,000 penalty for failing to get verifiable parental consent before collecting and using personal information from hundreds of thousands of U.S. children… “As connected toys become increasingly popular, it’s more important than ever that companies let parents know how their kids’ data is collected and used and that they take reasonable steps to secure that data,” Acting FTC Chair Maureen Ohlhausen said in a statement issued with the settlement. “Unfortunately, VTech fell short in both of these areas.”
