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 moreAntitrust & 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
March 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 moreFebruary 23, 2024
On the Radio (Waves)
The first wireless communication took place in 1895, when Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi sent a [...]
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