Introduction 

On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published 

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• Read more about How are Tribal Nations preparing for rapid changes in federal policy?

• Read more about Defining and Putting into Practice Tribal Digital Sovereignty

• Read more about An Examination of Federal Tribal Broadband Funding Post-COVID

• Read more about History of Advocacy in Tribal Telephony and Telecommunications, 1980–2020

• Read more about Journal of Community Informatics Special Issue: Charting Sovereignty in the Digital Age: Tribal Leadership, Broadband, and the Rise of Tribal Digital Sovereignty

Background

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Federal policy and directive around artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted considerably in recent years. In 2023, President Biden issued  EO 14110, Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, which emphasized safety, equity, worker protections, and privacy in federal AI policy.

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On June 6, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a policy notice amending the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) program requirements.

While the NTIA describes this as a “restructuring,” the amendment significantly departs from the program’s original requirements.

• Read more about NTIA Updates BEAD Program Rules in New Policy Notice