Laura Ryan
National Journal
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Past articles by Laura:
A Long Way to a Net-Neutrality Deal
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) Democrats aren't on board with net neutrality legislation, but Republicans are vowing to continue negotiations. Sen. Cory Booker is pushing a bill to protect city-run broadband projects. Google wants to become a wireless carrier. Michelle Lee, Obama's pick to head the Patent and Trademark Office, will speak on… → Read More
Obama Pushes Cyber Plan; Congress Digs into Net Neutrality
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) Obama's State of the Union touched on cybersecurity, broadband, NSA spying and trade agreements, though patent reform earned no love. It's a key day for net neutrality, as the House and Senate Commerce Committees will hold hearings to discuss draft legislation. STATE OF THE UNION CYBER: As expected, President… → Read More
Spotlight on Tech in State of the Union
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address tonight and is expected to touch on a number of tech issues, including cybersecurity, privacy, and city-run broadband. Democrats are skeptical of the latest Republican overtures for a net neutrality compromise. The NSA knew North Korea hacked Sony… → Read More
Administration to Release Update on NSA Spying
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) → Read More
Republicans Outline Net Neutrality Bill
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) Republicans are giving Democrats basically everything they want on net neutrality legislation in a bid to preempt Title II reclassification. And the House and Senate are planning hearings next week on the issue. The FCC is poised to overturn state laws limiting municipal broadband in alignment with President… → Read More
Obama Pushes Government-Run Broadband
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) President Obama travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, today to call for faster and more affordable broadband. He will criticize state restrictions on municipal broadband and will urge the FCC to intervene. Lawmakers are eager to start poring over the White House's cybersecurity proposals unveiled Tuesday—but are not… → Read More
Obama Plans Cybersecurity Steps
By Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) In the wake of the Sony hack, the White House is focusing on ways to improve cybersecurity. President Obama is slated to talk at the FTC today to unveil new steps intended to protect student data and fight identity theft. Later this week, the president will discuss cybersecurity information sharing and outline a… → Read More
U.S. Wants China’s Help to Block Korean Hackers
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) → Read More
White House Pledges 'Proportional Response' to Sony Hack
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) The Obama administration may formally blame North Korea today for the Sony Pictures hack and is weighing a "proportional response." Some lawmakers see the hack as an opportunity to push cybersecurity legislation in the next Congress. FCC Republicans are furious the agency approved a data roaming order and a wireless… → Read More
Sony Cancels 'The Interview' as Blame Focuses on North Korea
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) Sony Pictures has pulled the Christmas Day release of The Interview as federal investigators reportedly have concluded North Korea is behind the hack on the entertainment company. Net-neutrality activists are saying a study of the second round of FCC comments was erroneous. The Commerce Department says few Americans… → Read More
FCC Plans Massive Fine of Sprint
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) The FCC is planning to slap Sprint with a $105 million fine for overcharging customers, tying the largest fine ever. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is issuing new guidelines for reviewing patents in light of recent Supreme Court decisions dealing with software patent eligibility. Verizon is pushing its own… → Read More
Sony Threatens Journalists Reporting on Corporate Hack
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) The government managed to stay open over the weekend, despite opposition to a $1.1 trillion spending package from Sens. Ted Cruz and Elizabeth Warren. Despite some suspect language in the deal, the domain-name Internet transfer is still on track. Sen. Patrick Leahy is blasting ISPs for not making clearly disavowing… → Read More
Wheeler Doesn't Buy ISPs' Net-Neutrality Threats
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) Late Thursday, the House approved a spending bill to keep the government open. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he doesn't think Title II regulation would slow down broadband investment. The FCC also voted to expand E-Rate with a $1.5 billion annual bump, and may look to expand the Lifeline program next. TOP NEWS HOUSE… → Read More
Ghost of SOPA Haunts Copyright Law Review
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) The House members working to update copyright law will have to be careful not to ignite the same explosion of public anger that killed the antipiracy bill SOPA. Michelle Lee looks to be on track for confirmation to head the Patent and Trademark Office early next year. And the FCC will vote today to spend billions of… → Read More
Spending Bill Will Extend Internet Tax Ban
Brendan Sasso ( @BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz ( @dnvolz), and Laura Ryan ( @njljryan) Lawmakers have settled on a one-year extension of the ban on Internet access taxes, likely setting up another fight over online-sales tax in 2015. The congressional spending bill also seeks to limit the administration's ability to give up control of the Internet's domain name system, and includes additional… → Read More
Appeals Court May Doubt the Dangers of NSA Spying
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@njljryan) The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals looks unconvinced that NSA spying is as dangerous as its critics claim. Rep. Marsha Blackburn wants to protect the privacy of children and NBA stars. Netflix believes just three Title II provisions are needed to preserve net neutrality, and Verizon has a new general counsel. TOP NEWS… → Read More
N. Korea Denies Hacking Sony (But Calls It a 'Righteous Deed')
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso) and Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) North Korea is saying it had nothing to do with the hack on Sony Pictures, but cheered it anyway. Whether the denial is honest or not, it looks like Kim Jong-Un's regime possesses the know-how to pull off a major cyberattack, thanks to a hacker cell known as Bureau 121. A group of academics is pleading with the FTC to intervene in the net… → Read More
Will Silicon Valley Give Up on Poor Immigrants?
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), Laura Ryan (@NJLJRyan), and Billy House Silicon Valley will soon have to decide whether to continue to seek comprehensive immigration or settle for piecemeal legislation. A cohort of 30 Republicans failed to convince House Speaker John Boehner to support an online sales tax—but he did promise to revisit the issue early next year. Sen. Dianne… → Read More
House Postpones Net Neutrality Hearing
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@NJLJRyan) The House Energy and Commerce Committee is pushing back a hearing on net neutrality due to "scheduling issues." The FAO wants the FCC to make broadband providers to be held to a code of conduct for data caps. Amazon failed to escape an FTC lawsuit dealing with kids making in-app purchases, and Sen. Al Franken is… → Read More
Ex-Googler Has Some 'Crazy' Ideas to Combat Global Poverty
Brendan Sasso (@BrendanSasso), Dustin Volz (@dnvolz), and Laura Ryan (@NJLJRyan) Ann Mei Chang, a former Google executive, is going to run USAID's Global Development Lab. President Obama wants to help fund 50,000 body cameras for local and state police, but the technology still faces hurdles to widespread adoption. And Chief Justice John Roberts quoted Eminem as he and his fellow Supremes… → Read More