Democrats call for a unified charger standard in the U.S. - The Verge

• According to The Verge, a group of Democrats in the Senate asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to follow the example of the European Union, which has forced all smartphone manufacturers to produce devices that comply with the universal charging port standard.

"The EU has wisely acted in the public interest by coming into conflict with powerful technology companies on this consumer and environmental issue," the senators wrote.  "The United States should do the same."