Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross downplayed any disagreement within the Trump administration on how much it wants to restrict Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei via U.S. trade rules. His Thursday exchange with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., came during a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the Commerce Department’s FY 2021 budget request. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., questioned the agency's broadband coverage data collection.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross downplayed any disagreement within the Trump administration on how much it wants to restrict Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei via U.S. trade rules. His Thursday exchange with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., came during a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the Commerce Department’s FY 2021 budget request. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., questioned the agency's broadband coverage data collection.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross downplayed any disagreement within the Trump administration on how much it wants to restrict Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei via U.S. trade rules. His Thursday exchange with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., came during a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the Commerce Department’s FY 2021 budget request. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., questioned the agency's broadband coverage data collection.

Consumers should be able to turn off algorithm filtering that determines the online content they see, Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said during a hearing Tuesday, announcing legislative efforts. Ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told reporters he likes the concept but suggested it could be folded into the Senate Commerce Committee’s ongoing privacy legislation talks.

Consumers should be able to turn off algorithm filtering that determines the online content they see, Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said during a hearing Tuesday, announcing legislative efforts. Ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told reporters he likes the concept but suggested it could be folded into the Senate Commerce Committee’s ongoing privacy legislation talks.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director nominee Kelvin Droegemeier outlined his vision for the office to maintain a leadership role on spectrum policy, cybersecurity and emerging tech issues during President Donald Trump's administration. He said during a Thursday Senate Commerce Committee hearing he aims to ensure “continued American leadership in science and technology.” Members' questioned Droegemeier on OSTP's future role in the administration, as expected (see 1808220036). Most of the interest was on the office's function in science policymaking.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director nominee Kelvin Droegemeier outlined his vision for the office to maintain a leadership role on spectrum policy, cybersecurity and emerging tech issues during President Donald Trump's administration. He said during a Thursday Senate Commerce Committee hearing he aims to ensure “continued American leadership in science and technology.” Members' questioned Droegemeier on OSTP's future role in the administration, as expected (see 1808220036). Most of the interest was on the office's function in science policymaking.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director nominee Kelvin Droegemeier is likely to face questions during a Thursday Senate Commerce Committee hearing on how he thinks the office can shape tech policymaking in President Donald Trump's administration, lawmakers and tech sector officials said in interviews. Officials are optimistic OSTP can still be influential in policymaking despite misgivings about the amount of time it took Trump to staff it (see 1704210055 and 1801180055). Trump nominated Droegemeier, vice president-research and professor of meteorology at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma cabinet secretary of science and technology, earlier this month, more than a year and a half after John Holdren stepped down at the end of President Barack Obama's administration.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director nominee Kelvin Droegemeier is likely to face questions during a Thursday Senate Commerce Committee hearing on how he thinks the office can shape tech policymaking in President Donald Trump's administration, lawmakers and tech sector officials said in interviews. Officials are optimistic OSTP can still be influential in policymaking despite misgivings about the amount of time it took Trump to staff it (see 1704210055 and 1801180055). Trump nominated Droegemeier, vice president-research and professor of meteorology at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma cabinet secretary of science and technology, earlier this month, more than a year and a half after John Holdren stepped down at the end of President Barack Obama's administration.

The Senate could pass an autonomous driving bill if compromise can be reached on objections from Democrats, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-N.D., told reporters after a field hearing at the Washington Auto Show. The American Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV Start) Act passed the committee in October (see 1710040063), but Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Conn., Ed Markey, Mass., and Dianne Feinstein, Calif., blocked S-1885’s move to the floor over concerns it doesn’t adequately protect driver safety.