Voters got their chance to tune in to the two major political party conventions — to hear politicians express their visions for improving the lives of workers and moving the economy forward.

But until a last-minute state appeals court decision Aug. 20, those living in the fifth-largest economy in the world (home to some of the most innovative companies on the planet) were at risk of losing access to a years-old technology that is available everywhere, from Bangladesh and sub-Saharan Africa to Australia and the United Kingdom.