Net neutrality is officially on hold after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the rule from taking effect.

The court granted a stay, extending an earlier temporary pause. This time, net neutrality will be blocked until the court says otherwise after reviewing the petitions from broadband providers who opposed the rule. Those internet service providers (ISPs) successfully showed they would likely succeed on the merits of their challenge, the panel of judges wrote.

“The American public wants an internet that is fast, open, and fair,” Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement on the stay. “Today’s decision by the Sixth Circuit is a setback but we will not give up the fight for net neutrality.”

The FCC voted to restore net neutrality rules earlier this year, after years of back and forth on the rule. Net neutrality is the concept that ISPs shouldn’t discriminate against different websites by blocking or throttling speeds or access. The controversial part of the policy is the mechanism by which the FCC has tried to enforce these rules: by reclassifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. ISPs have resisted this reclassifying in large part because they say it could lead to even greater government control over their businesses that they say would stifle innovation. For example, they say the classification could be used to impose price regulations, though the FCC has said it’s not planning on it.

In a concurring opinion, Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton writes that the FCC’s flip-flopping on net neutrality between administrations makes it difficult to even apply the lower standard of Skidmore deference, thought to potentially be a fallback now that agencies can no longer rely on Chevron deference. Citing Skidmore, Sutton writes, “An agency’s power to persuade turns on the thoroughness of its reasoning, its technical expertise, and its ‘consistency with earlier and later pronouncements,’” especially those contemporaneous with the statute’s enactment,” he writes. “The problem is, we do not know which group of experts to respect.”

He adds, “The consistency query makes matters worse. The Commission’s ‘intention to reverse course for yet a fourth time’ suggests that its reasoning has more to do with changing presidential administrations than with arriving at the true and durable ‘meaning of the law.’”

Have you ever wondered why some hurricanes transform from relatively mild storms into monsters in just a day? This process, called rapid intensification, is one of the biggest challenges in hurricane forecasting.

Imagine you’re living in a coastal town, preparing for what you think will be a moderate tropical storm. Suddenly, within 24 hours, it becomes a Category 5 hurricane. That’s exactly what happened with Hurricane Otis in October 2023, catching many by surprise and causing widespread destruction in Acapulco, Mexico.

This rapid transformation isn’t just scary. It’s becoming more common. So, how can we better predict these sudden intensifications? That is where Saildrone comes in.

GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE

The robot explorers sailing into hurricanes

Picture a sailboat but without any people on board and packed full of high-tech sensors to collect data about the oceanic and atmospheric conditions. That’s essentially what a Saildrone Explorer is. The drones come in a variety of sizes, either 23, 33 or 65 feet ong.

These wind-propelled, solar-powered vehicles are designed to sail directly into hurricanes, collecting crucial data where it matters most. They allow scientists to measure the track, or path, that a hurricane is taking along with changes in its intensity over time.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET

A robotic drone being lowered into the water (Saildrone)

What makes a saildrone so special?

Unlike traditional research ships, a saildrone can stay at sea for months at a time; the longest mission lasted more than a year. They’re also much safer and more cost-effective than sending crewed vessels into dangerous storms.

A robotic drone being deployed (Saildrone)

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

What data does a saildrone collect?

So, what kind of information do these brave little drones gather? Everything from wind speed and direction to air and water temperatures, wave heights and even underwater currents. It’s like having a weather station, oceanographic buoy and underwater probe all in one package.

This data fills critical gaps in our understanding of hurricanes. Satellites can show us where storms are, but they can’t tell us everything that’s happening at the ocean surface and below. A saildrone gives us that missing piece of the puzzle, helping scientists create a more complete picture of how hurricanes form and intensify. This year’s Saildrone mission officially starts on August 7th and runs through the end of October.

Robotic drone being deployed (Saildrone)

STORM SURVIVAL ESSENTIALS: YOUR ULTIMATE GADGET GUIDE

Can saildrone data help improve hurricane predictions?

All this information isn’t just interesting, it’s potentially life-saving. Scientists at NOAA (that’s the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are using Saildrone data to improve their hurricane forecast models.

The goal? To better predict not just where a hurricane will go but how strong it will become. This is crucial for coastal communities deciding whether to evacuate. As one NOAA scientist put it, “It’s very costly to evacuate, to pick up millions of people and move them somewhere.” Better forecasts mean better decisions and potentially saved lives.

Robotic drone being deployed (Saildrone)

Beyond saildrones: A multipronged approach

Saildrones are just one part of a larger strategy to improve hurricane forecasting. Underwater gliders dive deep beneath the waves, collecting data on ocean temperatures and currents. The famous “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft still fly directly into storms, providing invaluable data from inside the cyclone.

Together, these tools are helping scientists create a complete picture of hurricanes, from 30,000 feet in the air to several thousand feet below the ocean surface.

Speaking of tools, stay informed and prepared to survive Mother Nature’s fury with the five best weather apps for 2024.

BAD WEATHER? HOW TO GET SURVIVAL READY IN ANY STORM

Kurt’s key takeaways

As climate change continues to influence hurricane patterns, the race is on to improve our forecasting capabilities. Saildrones and other innovative technologies are giving us unprecedented insight into these powerful storms. While we can’t prevent hurricanes, better understanding and prediction can help communities prepare, potentially saving lives and reducing damage. As we face an uncertain climate future, these ocean-going robots might just be our new best allies in the ongoing battle against nature’s most powerful storms.

How do you think advancements in hurricane forecasting technology might influence policy decisions regarding coastal development and infrastructure? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Follow Kurt on his social channels:

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

You’ll instantly notice the polygonal shapes making up the roof of the stadium, with the fractured pieces creating a mirror above those seated within the beehive-like setup. The Neom Stadium will be able to hold 46,000 people and “run entirely on renewable energy, generated primarily from wind and solar sources.” Construction is expected to be completed in 2032.

It looks like the stadium’s aesthetic will fit right in with The Line, the 106-mile-long linear city surrounded by reflective walls with a vertical housing system, a high-speed rail, and “100% renewable energy.” Saudi Arabia has been criticized for reportedly using lethal force to clear villages in the path of The Line, as well as concern over the amount of resources that it will need for construction.

Aside from the Neom stadium, Saudi Arabia is planning to build the three-tiered Prince Mohammed bin Salman stadium (pictured above) on the side of a cliff surrounded by colored glass and LED screens. Of course, these are still just renders for now, and the real things could end up looking entirely different.