Reports & Briefings

The federal government controls large swaths of the electromagnetic spectrum, but the current system for managing it lacks effective ways to incentivize agencies to use it efficiently. Congress and the Biden administration should promote good stewardship of spectrum and better enable it to power both federal missions and the commercial wireless ecosystem.

Peer-reviewed research finds that pharmaceutical innovation provides direct and indirect benefits for health-care use and disability.

Based on key indicators of innovation and advanced-industry performance, China has surpassed the United States in total innovation output and is getting close on a proportional basis. To regain its leadership, the United States must respond more strategically and forcefully.

The common refrain that big business wields disproportionate political power is overblown. Lobbying data indicates that large firms spend relatively less on lobbying than do smaller firms.

Policymakers should empower metaverse platforms to develop innovative tools and solutions to address safety issues and ensure AR/VR products and services don’t harm users. Overly prescriptive regulation risks stifling the progress of those innovations.

Critics argue U.S. broadband speeds are slow and the country’s broadband system overall is poor, but U.S. speeds actually are fast and outpace everyday demands. Focusing too much attention on speed simply diverts resources that otherwise could be used to close the digital divide.

Police tech could transform the way law enforcement operates, reducing crime and saving lives. Policymakers should focus on advancing adoption while enacting regulations to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of police tech.

Defending Digital Series, No. 13: Although many of today’s accusations against Big Tech are unfair, the technology industry should do more to protect itself. Pushing back against its critics, better aligning itself with America’s national interests, becoming more politically neutral, and effectively addressing long-term societal challenges would surely help.

Activity in the hydrogen sector continues to ramp up, as more governments jostle to offer subsidies and incentives. In the U.S., the deadline for concept paper submission to DOE for the H2Hubs program has passed and many credible hubs are emerging.

Gift card scams are on the rise. Scammers have relied on predatory tactics, emotional stories, and product tampering to steal nearly $450 million from unsuspecting Americans in the last three years alone, and the trend shows little signs of slowing.