Technology & Innovation
Innovation – and the technology that comes from it – has made all of our lives better in almost incalculable ways. Whether its access to clean water, transportation that can take us anywhere we want to go, or the information revolution, many of us would be lost without these technologies. Yet when it comes to technology advancements, government often gets in the way. Rules and regulations make it difficult for innovators to improve our lives. Louisiana often lags behind in embracing new technology stifling innovation and job creation while also hurting consumers in the process.
Policy Reports
April 11, 2024
Pelican Institute Releases AI Toolkit
New questions surrounding artificial intelligence emerge daily: What is AI? Should states be [...]
Read moreAugust 1, 2023
Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government
In their report “Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government,” [...]
Read moreCenter for Justice, Center for Opportunity Policy, Center for Technology & Innovation Policy, Education, Legal & Regulatory, Tax & Budget
March 22, 2023
Louisiana’s Comeback Agenda
It’s time to write Louisiana’s comeback story.
For too long, poor public policy decisions have [...]
Read moreMarch 17, 2022
Regulatory Sandboxes: Where Innovation Happens
Regulatory sandboxes are a novel way to govern innovative companies, allowing them to test their [...]
Read moreSeptember 19, 2021
Tech Policy Toolkit
The technology sector is playing an increasing role in our day-to-day lives as consumers, and it’s [...]
Read moreJune 22, 2021
REPORT: The State of Broadband in Louisiana and Mississippi
As COVID-19 continues to affect much of the world, people’s daily activities have shifted online. [...]
Read moreApril 15, 2021
Drones in Louisiana: Helping the Pelican State Take Flight
The Louisiana economy is struggling, with 155,000 missing jobs in the state since the start of 2020 [...]
Read moreApril 15, 2021
[REPORT] Medicine in a Digital World
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many paradigms of daily life. While the necessary adjustments [...]
Read moreApril 8, 2021
Sandboxes will Bring Innovation to Louisiana
Sandboxes are alternative regulatory frameworks for companies with innovative products or business [...]
Read moreNews & Media
December 11, 2024
‘Tis the Season (for AI)
Artificial intelligence (AI) developments in areas like healthcare and education often overshadow [...]
Read moreDecember 6, 2024
The DOJ Cried Google: The Monopoly that Wasn’t
In August the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s antitrust division ruled that Google was an [...]
Read moreNovember 14, 2024
A Big Help for Small Businesses
Artificial intelligence has transformed businesses and industries across the world. The profound [...]
Read moreNovember 6, 2024
Data Center of Attention: the Power Houses of the Digital World
Artificial intelligence (AI) has dominated tech headlines for the last two years, fascinating [...]
Read moreOctober 30, 2024
Rocky Mountain AI
For every stunning feat of progress in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), it seems there is [...]
Read moreOctober 29, 2024
Save the Court Date: How Technology Can Help Reduce “Failure to Appear” Rates
Missing a court appearance can have serious consequences: hefty fines, arrest warrants, and even [...]
Read moreOctober 25, 2024
Something We Can All Agree On
Last month, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) moved past the U.S. House Committee on Energy and [...]
Read moreOctober 16, 2024
AI of the Storm
The destruction of Helene and Milton brought shock and devastation to the states within their path. [...]
Read moreOctober 10, 2024
The Meteoric Rise and Spectacular Fall of CA’s SB1047: a Lesson in Preemptive Regulation
This summer California’s SB 1047, the “Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial [...]
Read moreOctober 9, 2024
DOJ’s Attack on Google Threatens Small Business and Innovation
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is aggressively pursuing a case against Google that could dismantle [...]
Read moreOctober 3, 2024
Put it in Neutral
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the largest broadband funding [...]
Read moreSeptember 25, 2024
The Ambiguity of Care
Last week, the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced the Kids Online Safety Act [...]
Read moreSeptember 11, 2024
Harris on Tech
Last month, we examined what a Trump-Vance administration could mean for tech policy. Similarly, [...]
Read moreSeptember 9, 2024
AI+: How AI is Transforming Classrooms
This year, AI is on many educators’ lists of back-to-school essentials. The technology has [...]
Read moreAugust 28, 2024
The Age Verification Dilemma
As any parent will tell you, very few things are actually “childproof.” Sometimes, caring [...]
Read moreAugust 21, 2024
Sports Intelligence
The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in important areas like healthcare, education, and [...]
Read moreAugust 14, 2024
The Data Center Dilemma: When the Demand for Energy Demands Innovation
As more people and industries rely on artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence (AI) relies [...]
Read moreAugust 12, 2024
Google Decision: A Misguided Antitrust Crackdown?
The recent decision by the federal district court for the District of Columbia was against Google. [...]
Read moreAugust 9, 2024
Tech Under Trump
As the federal election season kicks into full swing, it’s easy to get lost in the spectacle [...]
Read moreAugust 7, 2024
A New Development in the Net Neutrality Saga
When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced its plan to reinstate Net Neutrality [...]
Read moreJuly 24, 2024
The European Union Bet on Regulation and Lost
The European Union (EU) took a gamble when it enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) [...]
Read moreJuly 23, 2024
The Supreme Court Protects Online Speech
The dawn of the internet brought about new forms of speech capable of reaching massive audiences. [...]
Read moreJuly 22, 2024
Taxation Without Connection: When Local Fees Don’t Consider Local Needs
The digital divide, the space between those who do and do not have access to fast and reliable [...]
Read moreJuly 17, 2024
The Great American Patchwork
The United States boasts a wide array of climates, cultures, accents, and cuisines. A Cajun [...]
Read moreJuly 10, 2024
Taxation Without Connection
The digital divide, the space between those who do and do not have access to fast and reliable [...]
Read moreJune 26, 2024
Warning: Government Overreach
What do tobacco products and alcohol have in common with apps like Instagram and X? U.S. Surgeon [...]
Read moreJune 25, 2024
Louisiana Welcomes Innovations in Insurance
This past legislative session, Louisiana’s lawmakers sought to improve several policies [...]
Read moreJune 19, 2024
Real Smart: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Classrooms For the Better
The classroom represents a better future, where the schools of today help to form the leaders of [...]
Read moreJune 12, 2024
A Vendetta Against “Big”
Lina Khan, chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Amazon go way back. Khan made a [...]
Read moreJune 5, 2024
The AI Race
The future of AI is unknown and so is how different countries and societies will choose to interact [...]
Read moreMay 29, 2024
The Technologies, They are a Changin
The nature of technology is one of swift progress and continuous change. The innovation of today is [...]
Read moreMay 22, 2024
Back to the Basics: A Section 230 Refresher
America is the undisputed leader in the online space, with some of the most successful and [...]
Read moreMay 15, 2024
Power House: How Louisiana Can Export Its Power Through Data
Louisiana produces SEC champions, world class cuisine, and lots of energy. The state’s economy has [...]
Read moreMay 14, 2024
Don’t Judge a Bill by its Title: How the Kids Online Safety Act Fails to Keep Kids Safe Online
One of the oldest tricks in the book of politics is to name a bill something so noble that any who [...]
Read moreMay 8, 2024
The Robot Will Scan You Now: How AI Can Make Us Healthier
Like the “all-natural” label in a grocery store or the “breaking news” banner on CNN, “AI” seems to [...]
Read moreMay 7, 2024
The Coming of Age Verification: A Classic Tale of Well-Intentioned but Misguided State Legislation
The advent of the internet has forever changed the childhood experience. Today’s youth have never [...]
Read moreMay 2, 2024
Less Talk (Shows), More Action
In the age of podcasts, mention of AM radio will conjure up nostalgia for some and confusion for [...]
Read moreApril 24, 2024
What Privacy Means for the Public
In many ways we value what makes states unique and their authority to make their own laws. But long [...]
Read moreApril 17, 2024
Was it the End of the Internet?
The recent solar eclipse is not the only defining story of 2017 that we are revisiting—net [...]
Read moreApril 10, 2024
(Anti)trust Issues
2024 is the year of the antitrust and some of tech’s biggest names, from Google to Meta, are [...]
Read moreApril 3, 2024
What Will the Future of Digital Money Look Like?
How often do you still pay with cash? Many Louisianians are used to paying for even small items [...]
Read moreMarch 27, 2024
Digital Divide and Conquer: Effective Coordination between Broadband Programs is Key to Connectivity
In the digital age, access to fast and reliable internet is often a prerequisite for participation [...]
Read moreMarch 27, 2024
Social Media at the Supreme Court
March brought about two landmark social media cases with the potential to determine the future of [...]
Read moreMarch 20, 2024
Between a TikTok and a Hard Place
TikTok, a video-sharing app, hosts about 1.5 billion users worldwide and is both loved and hated [...]
Read moreMarch 13, 2024
A Lesson from Across the Pond
Do you travel often? If you do, you have likely used one of the many online services that help you [...]
Read moreMarch 6, 2024
SCOTUS Weighs in on Free Speech Online
The advent of online speech allowed ideas and content to reach incredibly large audiences at speeds [...]
Read moreFebruary 28, 2024
Competition Creates Innovation
History is a testament to rivalries creating excellence. Tesla versus Edison for electricity, [...]
Read moreFebruary 23, 2024
On the Radio (Waves)
The first wireless communication took place in 1895, when Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi sent a [...]
Read moreFebruary 21, 2024
California Fumbles AI
If you’re one of the 123 million viewers who watched the Super Bowl last Sunday, chances are you [...]
Read moreFebruary 14, 2024
Affordable Connectivity Program and the Digital Divide
In the digital age, fast and reliable internet is vital to participation in society. American jobs, [...]
Read moreFebruary 7, 2024
Antitrust Aggression: How the FTC is Hurting Companies and Consumers
When iRobot’s Roomba vacuum cleaner entered households in 2002, it was a glimpse of a future where [...]
Read moreJanuary 31, 2024
Orbiting Connectivity: the Promise of Satellite Internet for Rural Communities
Recently, the Biden Administration boasted an $82 million investment to increase high speed [...]
Read moreJanuary 24, 2024
Viva La AI: The Latest from the Consumer Electronics Show
This month, tech enthusiasts from around the world made their annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas, [...]
Read moreJanuary 2, 2024
East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s New Data Portal is Pioneering Criminal Justice Transparency in Louisiana
Lack of data and transparency has long been an issue with all agencies involved in the criminal [...]
Read moreDecember 20, 2023
What is Digital Equity and Will it Help Louisiana?
Broadband is a crucial component of today’s infrastructure and allows people to stay connected [...]
Read moreOctober 5, 2023
Should The Government Run the Internet?
What is the biggest issue with the internet in Louisiana? For most people in the Pelican State, [...]
Read moreOctober 4, 2023
The FTC’s Radical Case Against Amazon
A recent survey found that 25 out of 100 Americans buy items on Amazon at least once per week. But [...]
Read moreSeptember 19, 2023
Government Searching For Reasons To Run the Internet
When seeking answers online, where do you typically turn? For many, the immediate response is [...]
Read moreAugust 28, 2023
How Congress Stalling on Spectrum Will Slow Louisiana’s Connectivity
As the scorching heat of a Louisiana summer drives residents indoors, our dependence on [...]
Read moreCenter for Justice, Center for Opportunity Policy, Center for Technology & Innovation Policy, Education, Health & Medicaid, Legal & Regulatory, Local Government, Tax & Budget, Transportation
August 23, 2023
Candidate Questionnaire 2023
Does your candidate support jobs and opportunities in Louisiana? Election Day 2023 is fast [...]
Read moreAugust 10, 2023
AI: What Are the Real Risks?
A few weeks ago, the White House stunned people all across the world when it convened some of the [...]
Read moreJuly 19, 2023
New Pelican Paper: Antitrust Enforcement? Put Power in the Hands of Consumers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Baton Rouge, July 19, 2023 — Everything old is new again, and that’s turning [...]
Read moreJune 29, 2023
Don’t Fear the Robots
Suddenly, artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere, especially in the news. As with most [...]
Read moreMay 19, 2023
Star Trek tech: if government stays out of the way
In Star Trek, Captain Kirk communicates to his allies and enemies via a giant video wall on his [...]
Read moreMay 5, 2023
Co-Parenting with the Government? Beware.
The mental health of preteens and teenagers across America has been a growing concern as suicide [...]
Read moreFebruary 22, 2023
Not A Great Look
Last week, Christine Wilson, a commissioner at the FTC, wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal [...]
Read moreFebruary 14, 2023
Social Media and the Supreme Court
Next week, the Supreme Court is set to hear cases involving the content moderation practices of [...]
Read moreFebruary 13, 2023
Internet For All: Let the Process Work
Last year, the Federal Communications Commission released its nationwide broadband availability [...]
Read moreFebruary 2, 2023
tsk tsk tsk
Epic Games is in trouble. The creator of the popular video game Fortnite has reached an agreement [...]
Read moreJanuary 26, 2023
And So It Continues
Yesterday, the DOJ–infused with the spirit of “hipster antitrust”–filed a lawsuit [...]
Read moreJanuary 23, 2023
I’ve Got The Power
Antitrust is now front and center in the national debate. Under the leadership of Lina Khan, the [...]
Read moreJanuary 9, 2023
Big is Bad is Back
There are essentially two schools of thought when it comes to antitrust legislation: The Harvard [...]
Read moreJanuary 2, 2023
Planes, trains, and…Facebook?
The debate around whether government should regulate social media platforms centers on whether [...]
Read moreDecember 30, 2022
That’s All Folks!
For the past few months, we’ve written about a slew of bills that Congress was trying to ram [...]
Read moreDecember 12, 2022
Sneaky, Sneaky, Sneaky
The Journalism Competition Preservation Act (JCPA) won’t go away. Now, there are reports that some [...]
Read moreDecember 5, 2022
A MySpace Monopoly? lol
Recently, I came across an article titled, “MySpace Is A Natural Monopoly,” written on January 17, [...]
Read moreNovember 22, 2022
Antitrust or Anti-Consumer?
Last year, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Amy Klobuchar [...]
Read moreNovember 3, 2022
At the Intersection of Free Markets and Free Speech
Elon Musk has bought Twitter, and now promises to protect free speech on the platform. Naturally, [...]
Read moreAugust 16, 2022
Web3 101: The Building Blocks of a New Internet
What is the future of the internet? The internet changes so quickly and constantly that we often [...]
Read moreJuly 20, 2022
These New Orleans Kids are Using Web3 to Shape the Future
When looking at where the future of technology is going, it’s best not to ask people my age, but to [...]
Read moreJuly 13, 2022
Eric Peterson Joins Jeff Crouere to Discuss the AICOA
Eric Peterson, Director of the Tech and Innovation Center, joins Jeff Crouere’s Ringside [...]
Read moreJuly 6, 2022
Social Media Regulations Will Not Help Parents
As COVID-19 recedes and we can interact physically again, many are concerned about the amount of [...]
Read moreJuly 1, 2022
Congress Is Trying to Get Rid of Generic Products Online
With personal incomes in the Pelican State growing at one of the slowest rates in the nation and [...]
Read moreJune 15, 2022
Government Report Shows Why Billions in Spending Haven’t Closed Digital Divide
One of the few policy agreements across state capitols and in Washington D.C. is the need to close [...]
Read moreJune 8, 2022
Social Media is Likely Headed to the Supreme Court
Last week, the United States Supreme Court granted an emergency stay preventing a Texas social [...]
Read moreMay 18, 2022
Tech Is Resisting Inflation, So Why Is Government Trying to Regulate It?
Americans are facing levels of inflation not seen in decades and every trip to the grocery store or [...]
Read moreMay 6, 2022
Government Shouldn’t Obstruct Musk’s Twitter Purchase
Elon Musk is currently purchasing the social media company Twitter. The ongoing purchase set off a [...]
Read moreApril 18, 2022
Can Louisiana “Mine” Its Business?
Recently, Houston, Texas hosted the Empower conference which focused on Bitcoin mining. The [...]
Read moreApril 11, 2022
Could Bills Aimed at Technology Companies Hurt Louisiana Entrepreneurs?
In Congress, there is little agreement on how to address concerns about large technology companies. [...]
Read moreMarch 30, 2022
Can NFTs Fix Our Roads?
If you live in Louisiana, you have certainly dealt with your fair share of potholes. You are [...]
Read moreMarch 25, 2022
The Next Wave of Innovation Starts in Sandboxes
When laws and regulations are created, they often don’t consider new businesses and products that [...]
Read moreFebruary 15, 2022
How Sandboxes Jump-Started Innovation in Arizona
When thinking about states that lead in technological innovation, California likely comes top of [...]
Read moreFebruary 3, 2022
5G Is Coming to Louisiana, but How Soon?
January was momentous for expanding internet access across the nation. The C-Band spectrum, radio [...]
Read moreJanuary 25, 2022
Louisiana Needs to Think Outside the Box
Louisiana’s economy lagged behind the rest of the country long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many [...]
Read moreDecember 22, 2021
I’m Dreaming of a New Car Buying Experience This Christmas
Do you think Christmas car commercials are as ridiculous as I do? You know the ones I am talking [...]
Read moreDecember 1, 2021
OpEd: Why Louisiana should lead the world in Bitcoin mining
Originally Posted in the Center Square Louisiana has long been a leading state in energy [...]
Read moreOctober 4, 2021
From Hurricanes to the Economy, Drones Can Help Louisiana Recover
Hurricane Ida brought some of the worst destruction our state has seen in over a decade. As [...]
Read moreAugust 9, 2021
Infrastructure Package Threatens to Slow Cryptocurrency Innovation
The debate over the trillion-dollar, 2000-page infrastructure package is heating up in Congress, [...]
Read moreJuly 15, 2021
Letter to Congress: “The Federal Government Should be Careful When Appropriating Additional Broadband Funds”
There is a bipartisan agreement in Washington D.C. that the federal government should take steps to [...]
Read moreMay 3, 2021
Another Reason Why Tesla Won’t Move to Louisiana
Why are successful and innovative companies moving south but not to Louisiana? The states outdated [...]
Read moreApril 27, 2021
Louisiana Should Continue to Reject Government Owned Networks
There is major movement on the broadband front in Louisiana. Not only will the Federal [...]
Read moreApril 22, 2021
Drones Need to Take Flight in Louisiana
The Louisiana economy is struggling with more than 100,000 lost jobs since the start of 2020. To [...]
Read moreApril 12, 2021
Louisiana Gets Serious About Innovation
The pandemic has proven how important innovation is to staying safe and living our lives during a [...]
Read moreApril 5, 2021
(BIG) Solutions (mini) Summit(s) Tech and Innovation Recap
Louisiana has the potential to be a tech and innovation destination. During the Pelican Institute’s [...]
Read moreApril 2, 2021
Principles for Broadband Expansion with the American Rescue Plan of 2021
Louisiana’s state and local governments will be receiving approximately $5.18 billion from [...]
Read moreOctober 28, 2020
Everything You Need to Know About Section 230 and Online Speech
If you have been paying attention to the debate over online speech and conservative censorship, you [...]
Read moreOctober 16, 2020
Should Government Regulate Social Media?
by Eric Peterson, Director, Pelican Center for Technology and Innovation Policy It seems nearly [...]
Read moreSeptember 19, 2020
Tech Policy Toolkit
One of the hottest topics in public policy today is the world of technology and innovation. At no [...]
Read moreSeptember 17, 2020
Lafayette Shows Why Government Shouldn’t Run Internet
There is no question that more Louisianans are in need of broadband internet connections. With [...]
Read moreSeptember 10, 2020
Stop the Attack on Free Speech Online
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order related to free speech online. [...]
Read moreJuly 15, 2020
Major Win for Getting Louisianans Connected
In a huge victory for connecting Louisianans to high-speed broadband internet, Governor John Bel [...]
Read moreJune 15, 2020
Pelican Statement: Governor Vetoes Rural Broadband
On Friday, Governor John Bel Edwards’ vetoed an important piece of legislation for connecting [...]
Read moreJune 4, 2020
Section 230 Protects the Speech of Louisianans
With COVID-19, the economic crisis, and the protests taking place across the country, Americans are [...]
Read moreMay 18, 2020
Pelican, Partners Release Policy Solutions to Close State Digital Divides
As connectivity has become more important than ever, elected officials at all levels of government [...]
Read moreApril 17, 2020
TECH NEWS: Pelican Leads Coalition Supporting A Free and Open Internet
Since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Chairman Ajit Pai, ended the regulation [...]
Read moreMarch 27, 2020
TECH NEWS: Louisiana Needs Drone Delivery Now
To reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, many Louisianans are foregoing shopping [...]
Read moreMarch 19, 2020
TECH NEWS: COVID-19 Social Media Incident Shows Value of Key Free Speech Protection
As people worldwide go into quarantine and conversations around COVID-19 move increasingly online, [...]
Read moreFebruary 12, 2020
Louisiana Needs to Lower Costs to Expand Rural Broadband
If you are reading this article, chances are you have access to a broadband internet connection. A [...]
Read moreFebruary 11, 2020
Pelican Releases Principles on Emerging Technology Issues for State Lawmakers
As state legislative sessions get underway across the country, the Pelican Center for Technology [...]
Read moreFebruary 6, 2020
Pelican Encourages FCC to Close the Digital Divide
Coming off the Pelican Institute’s second annual Solutions Summit, where policy experts from across [...]
Read moreJanuary 13, 2020
Louisiana Needs Fair 5G Policy
There are few things in our modern world more frustrating than being unable to get a cellular [...]
Read moreJanuary 10, 2020
Top 10 inventions of the Decade
The 2010s were packed with historic events, both nationally and around the world. And while there [...]
Read moreDecember 12, 2019
Pelican Institute Joins Coalition Opposing California Privacy Legislation
Should the legislature of California get a say over how you use the internet? On its face, this [...]
Read moreNovember 27, 2019
Be Thankful Black Friday Keeps Getting Better
After enjoying time catching up with family, watching football and eating too much food on [...]
Read moreSeptember 13, 2019
Lafayette Utilities System Fiber Continues to Prove Why Government Broadband Doesn’t Work
In 2009, the city of Lafayette began providing cable and internet services with the Lafayette [...]
Read moreJanuary 22, 2018
Internet Freedom Important to Louisiana
“Net Neutrality” has been in the news a lot lately. If many of your Facebook friends are to be [...]
Read more