U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) today introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen technical resources and expertise at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The legislation would allow Commissioners to appoint a technical staff member and require the National Academy of Sciences to launch a study and examine the technical policy decision-making process and the availability of technical personnel at the FCC.

U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation requiring the installation of small wireless base stations in all publicly accessible federal buildings in order to increase wireless coverage and free up essential commercial network capacity.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and George LeMieux (R-FL) successfully amended the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 during today’s Senate Commerce Committee meeting to include an amendment that will promote long-term job growth and boost the economic competitiveness of the United States. The amendment also is co-sponsored by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Begich (D-AK).

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that a network of community colleges, workforce investment boards and health care providers in 29 western Virginia localities will share a $4.7 million federal grant to provide job training in health care information technology. Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon is leading this regional effort, called the Western Virginia Health Information Technology Education (HITE) Initiative. The program will create and or expand regional training programs to provide Virginians with skills and the required credentials to be able to work in the health care industry’s transition to electronic medical records.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb today announced $24 million in federal stimulus funding for two projects that will “jump-start” Virginia’s transition to expanded use of healthcare information technology (HIT) and electronic health records (EHR). These grants will help Virginia medical professionals as they work to implement and use HIT to lower consumer health care costs, minimize redundant paperwork and reduce medical errors.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner and Representatives Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher today announced two grants totaling more than $21.5 million to expand broadband Internet infrastructure in Virginia. The grants, awarded through the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), will support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. These investments will help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth and create jobs.