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OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC pushes for tablet computers in schools
THE LEDE: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Education Secretary Arne Duncan led a discussion on Thursday with technology executives and education groups about how to replace textbooks with tablet computers in schools.
The United States spends about $7 billion per year on textbooks, but many students are still using books that are seven to ten years out of date, according to the FCC.
One study estimates that switching to "digital textbooks" would save schools $250 per student per year.
"Other nations like South Korea and Turkey are racing to seize the opportunities of digital textbooks," Genachowski said. "We need to step up our efforts to realize the promise of this new technology in the U.S."
Companies participating in the meeting included Apple, Discovery Education, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Intel, McGraw-Hill, News Corp., Samsung, Sprint and T-Mobile.
FCC hands over LightSquared files: The FCC provided thousands of internal documents late Wednesday to House Republicans who are investigating LightSquared.
The FCC granted LightSquared a conditional waiver last year to move forward with plans for a nationwide 4G network, but the agency now plans to block the network after tests showed it would interfere with GPS devices, including ones used by airplane pilots.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has pledged to block a vote on the president's two FCC nominees, Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel, until he receives the FCC's records on LightSquared.
The FCC declined to provide any documents to Grassley, citing a policy against responding to requests from lawmakers who do not serve on committees with jurisdiction over the agency. But Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), one of the lawmakers leading the House's probe, has said he plans to share any documents he receives from the FCC with Grassley.
A spokeswoman for Grassley said she was aware the House had received the documents but that her office has not received any copies yet. She added that it is unclear whether the FCC plans to release more documents or whether this will be the only batch.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
House Republicans expressed strong skepticism about the need for online privacy regulations at a hearing, with one lawmaker warning it could lead to “big-government rules of the road.”
An independent investigation of the conditions in Chinese factories that produce Apple products found "serious and pressing" violations of workplace codes and Chinese law.
The Obama administration plans to invest $200 million to research new technologies to manage and sift through large volumes of digital data.
The American Conservative Union is urging Congress to protect the retransmission consent fees that are charged by broadcasters.
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