Washington State Leaders Announce First-Of-Its-Kind Plan to Defend Net Neutrality for Constituents

GeekWire | Monica Nickelsburg | December 13

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/washington-state-leaders-announce-first-kind-plan-defend-net-neutrality-constituents/

“Internet companies may still need to comply with net neutrality standards if they want to do business in Washington state — even if the Obama-era regulations are repealed tomorrow. Gov. Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and other officials announced a plan today to maintain standards in Washington that require internet providers to offer the same speed of service for all online content. The news comes on the eve of a vote by the Federal Communications Commission. It is expected to roll back regulations that prevent companies like Comcast and Verizon from throttling service to some content or creating a “fast lane” that customers can pay for.”

Bill and Melinda Gates Give $15 Million to Complete UW Building that Bears Their Name

Seattle Times | Katherine Long | December 13

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/bill-and-melinda-gates-give-15-million-to-complete-uw-building-that-bears-their-names/

“Even in Seattle these days, it takes considerable work to raise $70 million in private donations for a new classroom and lab building on the University of Washington campus. And so, despite a two-year campaign and multimillion-dollar gifts from Microsoft, Amazon, Zillow, Google and well-heeled private donors, the Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering was still short — by $15 million — of the money it had pledged to raise for its new building by the end of this year. Then Bill and Melinda Gates offered to make up the difference, said computer-science professor Ed Lazowska, who has helped lead the private-funding effort. The irony: A small group of well-heeled funders, calling themselves “Friends of Bill and Melinda,” had already talked about naming the building after the Gateses.”

Watch: Seattle Tunnel Project 2017 Milestones

Seattle PI | Daniel DeMay | December 13

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Watch-Seattle-tunnel-project-2017-milestones-12428960.php

“Two years ago, I was reporting on how Bertha was just getting back to digging after a more than two-year delay. The machine would dig just a bit before the holiday break, and then soon halt again in early 2016 after issues with sinkholes and barging away material triggered big orders from Gov. Jay Inslee. Once those things were addressed, however, contractor Seattle Tunnel Partners got back to work and started making real progress. The state Department of Transportation looked over 2016 as a good year for the project, even if things were likely to get more expensive than previously expected.”

Tech Accounted for 93% of Seattle Office Jobs Added Over the Last Two Years, Report Finds

GeekWire | Nat Levy | December 12

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/tech-accounted-93-seattle-office-jobs-added-last-two-years-report-finds/

“Seattle observers are well aware of the tech industry’s role in the city’s economic boom, but a new report takes it to a new level, finding that more than nine of every 10 office jobs created over the last two years came from the tech sector. The report by real estate firm CBRE, finds that Seattle tech firms added 23,575 jobs in 2015 and 2016, accounting for 93 percent of all office jobs in the city created during that time span. In raw numbers, Seattle also created more tech jobs than any other single market in the survey…The ranking factored in a number of metrics including tech job growth and how fast office rents are rising.”

Cascadia Rising: New Group Aims to Help Pacific NW Rival Silicon Valley as Unified Innovation Hub

GeekWire | Monica Nickelsburg | December 8

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/cascadia-rising-new-group-aims-help-pacific-nw-rival-silicon-valley-unified-innovation-hub/

“Despite its tech giants, leading universities, and talent, Seattle still struggles to stack up to Silicon Valley when it comes to venture capital funding and the startup activity dependent on it. But if Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., and Portland can fuse into one, connected technology ecosystem, the region becomes much more competitive. That’s the thesis of the Cascadia Venture Acceleration Network (CVAN), a new group founded by nearly 50 Pacific Northwest organizations that aims to foster cross-border collaboration and increase funding opportunities in the region. Healthcare hub Cambia Grove is a founding member of the group and hosted its launch event in Seattle Friday. Officials from British Columbia and Washington, including Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib, spoke at the event.”