Gov't Legislation/Regulation - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Companies should already know how to protect data, FTC argues

  The FTC has published enough information publicly for companies to know what it considers reasonable security practices for protecting sensitive data, an FTC official said.

• An H-1B cap hike would mean a grim future for workers

  If Congress approves comprehensive immigration reform, it will likely more than double the cap on H-1B visas. What happens then sounds dystopian for workers.

• Frustration, anger over new H-1B rule finds voice on U.S. site

  The U.S. is collecting comments on whether to allow certain H-1B spouses to work, and the prevailing theme is one of frustration.

• Tip of the Hat: A solution to the FCC net neutrality problem

  Last month's leaking of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plan for new net neutrality rules promptly elicited a firestorm of criticism from all sides of the political spectrum for its inclusion of two words -- "commercially reasonable."

• Search and rescue group sues FAA over drone use

  A battle for rights to U.S. airspace is brewing between the Federal Aviation Administration and organizations looking to operate small, unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, for commercial and other purposes.

• Durbin warns Republicans standalone H-1B hike plan will fail

  A push by the high-tech industry to support a stand-alone H-1B increase is drawing the ire of U.S. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

• Offshore firms took 50% of H-1B visas in 2013

  Data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shows clearly that the largest users of H-1B visas are offshore outsourcing firms.

• White House urges end to Turkey's Twitter ban

  The White House have called on Turkish officials to end the country's Twitter ban.

• Gov't push for broadband access yields gains; data privacy still a challenge

  President Obama's National Broadband Plan has helped expand Internet access in the U.S., but needs to be updated to account better data protection needs.

• Use of H-1B alternative skyrockets

  In 2008, the U.S. government changed the rules on student visas and allowed foreign STEM students to work in the U.S. for up to to 29 months without an H-1B visa. The program quickly grew in popularity.

• China's R&D investment getting closer to U.S.

  President Barack's Obama's fiscal 2015 budget plan would increase federal R&D spending by 1.2% over this year, if Congress approves.

• NASA's 2015 budget plan maintains Mars landing plans

  NASA's $17.5 billion proposed fiscal 2015 budget would maintain the U.S. space agency's plan to send humans to Mars by 2030, to study near-Earth asteroids and to send astronauts to the International Space Station.

• Arizona tech firms fight anti-gay bill and a future in a pariah state

  Arizona's tech industry is united in fighting a state bill that allows a business to deny service to gay customers for religious reasons.

• NOAA wants to turn its ocean of data into jobs

  From ocean sensors to orbiting satellites, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collects about 30 petabytes of environmental data a year. Now it wants ideas about how best to use what its collected.

• Personal history may thrust new Microsoft CEO into visa debate

  Microsoft's new CEO, Satya Nadella, was born in Hyderabad, India, one of that nation's largest IT centers, and graduated from Manipal University in India before heading to the U.S. to earn an advanced degrees in business and computer science.