WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) – U.S. regulators want states
to compete for federal incentives that would encourage the
adoption of a new generation of 911 response systems allowing
Americans to send text messages, photos and videos in emergency
situations.

The Federal Communications Commission released a report on
Wednesday on ways to improve the current 911 emergency systems
that largely rely on phone connections.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Court of Appeals judges on Monday hit hard against the Federal Communications Commission and Tennis Channel in a case alleging Comcast Corp discriminated against the sports network, even raising the possibility of rendering the entire case moot because it might have been filed too late.

A three-judge panel raised a number of technical concerns with the arguments of the regulator and the sports channel – including an underpinning one of timing – as it weighs whether Comcast can be required to distribute the network to as many subscribers as it does its own affiliated sports channels.

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) – U.S. regulators on Wednesday
proposed to free certain slices of airwaves in an ongoing effort
to tackle the shortage of available wireless spectrum, a move
that could ease Wi-Fi congestion in airports, stadiums and other
high-use hubs.

The Federal Communications Commission’s proposal would open
for public and private use some of the airwaves largely used by
government entities, including the Department of Defense and the
Federal Aviation Administration.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. regulators on Wednesday proposed to free up certain slices of airwaves in an ongoing effort to tackle the shortage of available wireless spectrum, a move that could ease wi-fi congestion in airports and other high-use hubs.

The Federal Communications Commission’s proposal would open up for public use some of the airwaves now largely used by government entities, including the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration, for navigation, surveillance and other activities.

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) – A day after U.S. President
Barack Obama signed an executive order on ways to better defend
against cyber attacks, administration officials told a packed
audience of industry insiders that no government agency can
tackle the threat alone.

The event on Wednesday at the U.S. Department of Commerce
kicked off what is likely to be a lengthy new effort to upgrade
U.S. defenses against cyber attacks. A previous effort stalled
in Congress last year.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed an executive order seeking better protection of the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks that are a growing concern to the economy and national security.

The long-expected executive order, unveiled in the State of the Union speech, follows last year’s failed attempt by the U.S. Congress to pass a law to confront continuing electronic attacks on the networks of U.S. companies and government agencies.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senators introduced a new proposal on Tuesday to make life easier for highly skilled immigrants and their employers to nourish America’s high-technology industries as Congress begins the long process of tackling immigration reform.

A bipartisan bill, focused largely on highly educated foreign workers, was introduced in Congress a day after another group of senators unveiled a comprehensive plan for simplifying the U.S. immigration system and giving illegal immigrants a chance to become citizens.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The National Mall was less crowded than four years ago, and the weather not nearly so cold. But for some fans viewing President Barack Obama’s ceremonial swearing-in for a second term of office on Monday, the moment was equally intense.

“This time I felt more emotional,” said Angela Johnson of Columbia, South Carolina, who sported a heavy coat festooned with Obama pins.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – All across Washington this weekend, the wealthy, the politically connected and the curious are putting on tuxedos and ball gowns and crowding into fancy galas to celebrate President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.

This was not one of those parties.

At an inaugural celebration at Washington’s U Street Music Hall late Saturday and early Sunday, a man in a black blazer accompanied a young woman who was in a midriff-baring, sequin-covered bra. Another couple danced while wearing matching track suits.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said on Friday that the Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) 787 Dreamliner jets will not fly again until authorities are “1,000 percent sure” they are safe.

He said authorities must first fully investigate the batteries linked to recent incidents, and he could not predict when flights would resume.