Remember when Congress passed and the president signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021? Well, finally…finally…the $42 billion in funding for broadband access is getting released. Engadget.com reports that Texas gets the biggest chunk at $3.3 billion. Eighteen other states will get over a billion. Every state will get at least $107 million. The plan is to get everyone in the country broadband by 2030. States are supposed to focus first on places with no access at all. The states have until year’s end to submit their proposals.

It seems like every little bit, there’s a new story about creepy stuff peeking into your life. Now, according to wired.com, companies are turning to military AI to surveil employees. There are now over a dozen companies selling what they say is military grade AI to keep tabs on employees. With these tools, your boss may be able to use advanced data analytics to identify labor organizing, internal leakers, and the company’s critics. The systems don’t just track what’s on your work computer, either. They collect and analyze publicly available data, including your social media posts.  The National Labor Relations Board announced last year that it would seek to outlaw “intrusive” and “abusive” labor surveillance, an important step. Meanwhile, just be aware that it isn’t just Big Brother watching you…it’s Big Business, too.

When we think of job perks, it’s usually the old standbys like health insurance, or in the startup world there’s been gourmet food, sports facilities, even child care. How about freedom? That is the latest carrot to be dangled by small tech companies. Vox.com says the smaller firms are jumping into something that’s being pulled back by the bigger tech companies…work from home. Many of the big guys are demanding that people return to the office…anywhere from 2 to 5 days a week. Data from Scoop Technologies, which tracks office policies shows that 81% of smaller firms…that’s less than 5,000 employees, allow remote work or even have remote only positions. Just 26% of the bigger firms offer that kind of flexibility. If you are really wanting the freedom to work remote all or most of the time…don’t be looking to Google, Facebook, or Apple. think small!

This is a biggie…or smallie, if there’s such a word. Scientists at MIT have developed paper think solar cells that can be attached to any kind of surface to convert it into a power source. Thecooldown.com reports that the cells can actually be made thinner than a human hair, and can be laminated to all sorts of surfaces…even the likes of sails on a boat to power things on board at sea! Tents could have solar panels all over the surface to power your small electronics while camping. Note that these cells can only generate half the energy per unit area compared to traditional silicon cells…BUT they can generate much more by weight. A mere 44 lbs can be laminated to a roof to crank out the same amount of power as an 8,000 watt traditional solar installation. They are working right now to bring these to market.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.