How the Senate's ban on state AI regulation imperils internet access

The Trump administration's tax bill -- also called its "big, beautiful bill" -- which rounds up key pieces of the president's agenda, also includes a rule that would prevent states from enforcing their own AI legislation for 10 years, if passed. After an initial budget hiccup, Republican senators successfully amended the rule to comply with budgetary requirements by adding that states trying to enforce AI regulations would not receive federal broadband funding. 

Here's why that matters. 

How the moratorium works

Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) is a $42-billion program run by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that helps states build infrastructure to expand high-speed internet access. The Senate rule makes all of that money, plus $500 million in new funding, contingent on states backing off their own AI laws. 

The issue is twofold: if passed, the rule would both constitutionally prohibit states from ...