Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues
In this edition of The Week in Tech Policy, we’ve included stories on making political donations via wireless texting, spectrum sharing, post-secondary financial aid and jobs data and more.
Federal Election Commission clears the way for political donations via wireless text. Americans are one step closer to being able to make political contributions via their phones’ text messaging capabilities, Bloomberg recently reported. On Aug. 15, the FEC ruled that wireless carriers would not be responsible for potentially fraudulent campaign donations and “and could refuse text-donation services to campaigns if they are not deemed commercially viable,” according to Bloomberg. The FEC’s move comes in the wake of concern expressed by the wireless industry earlier in August, as reported by NPR and others.
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This edition of The Week in Tech Policy has stories on higher education, online privacy guidelines for children, wireless spectrum and more.
Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s assess higher education’s financial health. Two major credit agencies have reached the conclusion that the high education industry’s financial risks have intensified since the start of 2012. Why? According to the University of Washington’s Office of Planning & Budgeting Blog, “both agencies noted that…state budget appropriations continue to fall, operating expenses are outpacing tuition revenue growth, and diminishing family net worth could affect enrollment as a growing number of colleges become unaffordable.”
Posted by Jane Broom DavidsonDirector of Community Affairs, Microsoft
In the global information economy, opportunities for individuals and communities directly depend on the quality of the education, training and learning opportunities available to them. Nowhere is that more true than right here in Washington State, where our state economy is increasingly reliant on innovation sectors such as computer science, green energy, advanced manufacturing and the life sciences.
That’s why one of Microsoft’s top priorities in the state is to help expand the range and improve the results of educational opportunities – especially in the subject areas of math and science - available to Washington’s citizens. Our goal is to help people develop a commitment to life-long learning that embraces mathematics and the sciences and endures through public lectures and community events. That commitment begins with early learning programs, continues through a strong K-12 system and carries on to high quality post-secondary education.
Posted by Fred HumphriesVice President, U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft
This summer, the people of the United States will look to Charlotte and Tampa as political leaders from across the country gather to lay out their vision for the future. Younger voters in particular have a stake in the course that will be charted in each city. They remain a pivotal voting block for the candidate who will best address their issues and concerns regarding jobs, education, political accountability and how to face the nation’s biggest challenges.
Microsoft has been named an official innovation provider of the 2012 Democratic National Convention and Committee for Charlotte 2012. This new relationship builds on Microsoft’s long-term partnership with the City of Charlotte to help youth realize new opportunities through educational development and support.
As an official innovation provider, Microsoft will streamline communications and enhance the convention experience for both convention organizers and participants through innovative, collaborative technology solutions like Office 365, consulting and support services, and – through our work with convention organizers and partner Interknowlogy – a touch-enabled Windows application that will allow convention delegates to cast floor votes on kiosks throughout the convention hall.