Do Not Let Congress Hold Our Internet Hostage

NCNW ADVOCACY & POLICY BRIEF

Do Not Let Congress Hold Our Internet Hostage:  Call Your Senators Today to Protect Broadband Access and State Rights

By Dr. Ja’Lia Taylor, Director of Policy, Telecommunications & Technology

Congress is at it again, and this time they are trying to make states choose between internet access and their right to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). Senator Ted Cruz and allies on the Senate Commerce Committee want states to receive broadband expansion funds only if they pause enforcement of any state or local AI laws for the next ten years. This is wrong, dangerous, and undemocratic.

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was created in 2021 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states expand high-speed internet in underserved areas.  Some states are expected to receive more than 1.3 billion dollars in BEAD funding. This money is meant to connect rural communities, low-income neighborhoods, and Black families across the state for education, health care, employment, and daily life.

Now, Congress is trying to attach a new condition: states can only get this money if they agree not to enforce any AI-related laws at the state or local level for a full decade. This power grab could harm communities that already face the brunt of the digital divide and algorithmic discrimination. Black women in particular have long experienced bias in health care, employment, and credit systems and it is well documented the biases that AI can magnify. Without local protections, states cannot respond when AI systems deny people jobs, track students without consent, or make flawed decisions about housing and public services.

What Is AI and Why Are States Trying to Regulate It?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that simulate human intelligence, including tools that make decisions, analyze data, recognize faces, or even generate text. AI is used in everything from hiring platforms to law enforcement surveillance, credit scoring, predictive policing, and educational software.

States have begun passing AI-related laws to:

• Require transparency about when AI is being used;
• Ban AI use in sensitive areas like facial recognition in schools;
• Ensure that AI systems don’t discriminate based on race, gender, or income;
• Protect privacy when AI tools collect and analyze personal data.

These are basic consumer protections, but this proposal would block states from enforcing any such laws for ten years.

Why This Matters

• BEAD funding was already promised and is critical for closing the digital divide in underserved states.
• The new proposal would strip states of the power to protect residents from harmful or biased AI tools.
• Black communities face greater risk from AI misuse and should not be forced to choose between broadband access and basic civil rights protections.
• Local control is essential. States must retain the right to govern in the best interest of their people.
• This bait-and-switch sets a dangerous precedent that Congress can attach new strings to essential programs after the fact. Broadband is a right, not a bargaining chip.

What You Can Do

We urge all NCNW members to call your U.S. Senators today and demand that they:

• Oppose any attempt to tie BEAD funding to a moratorium on state and local AI laws;
• Protect states’ rights to regulate technology in ways that keep communities safe;
• Stand up for both broadband equity and civil rights protections.

Sample Message When You Call

“Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I am calling to ask the Senator to oppose any proposal that makes BEAD broadband funding conditional on a ten-year ban on state or local AI regulations. States need broadband, and we also need the power to protect our residents. Please do not support this policy.”

Contact Your Senators

• https://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm
• United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.

This fight is about more than internet access. It is about protecting our power, our rights, and our future. Black women are watching, organizing, and ready to fight for our communities online and offline. Raise your voice, take action, and make sure our Senators do the right thing.