⏱Lt. Microsoft

High speed internet for everyone, and semiconductor investments

Good morning everyone! We hope you survived April Fools day relatively unscathed!

0:05- High speed legislation

• President Biden unveiled a new portion of his infrastructure legislation today, and showcased a $100Bn plan to close gaps in the nation's high-speed internet network. During the presentation, he called high-speed internet “critical for modern households”, but did not go into specific details about the plan. The overall goal though is to “make sure every single American has access to high quality affordable high-speed internet” and to “drive down the price for families who have service now.”

0:26- TSMC didn’t just one up Intel

• As the world continues to struggle with a semiconductor shortage, plans from various sources have come up with solutions: President Biden for example proposed a $50Bn revamp of the US semiconductor industry, while Intel announced a $20Bn investment in US foundries to provide base materials for the chips. Unfortunately both of those ideas were dwarfed today as TSMC, one of the major suppliers for Apple, announced an $100Bn investment over the next three years to increase production capacity as demand continues to skyrocket. 

0:48- Microsoft x US Army

• Late Wednesday afternoon, the US Army announced that they had struck a $21.9Bn deal with Microsoft to build more than 120k “HoloLens” headsets for Army training. These AR headsets overlay a HUD on the user’s surroundings, and allow them to interact with the virtual elements through both touch and voice. The Army hopes that these headsets will help to enhance soldier’s situational awareness and provide training opportunities that have been previously impossible.

1:08- Maybe a little late, but still helpful

• Yesterday the FDA authorized the first ever Covid test for “repeated, frequent” home use. Two of these new ‘serial’ tests will be available OTC (over-the-counter) for home use, while a commercial option for doctor’s offices or schools will require a prescription. Although these rapid antigen tests are slightly less precise than a molecular test done in a lab, studies show that they will still be highly effective in consumers exhibiting symptoms, and that frequent testing can make up for lower accuracy.

Have a great rest of your day, and we’ll see you tomorrow bright and early!

-The 90 Second News Team

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