Madison, Wis. – Last week, President Trump signed an executive order to deny full internet expansion funding from states like Wisconsin that regulate AI technology.
Representative Randy Udell (D-47th District) released the following statement:
“Technology regulation has long been pioneered by states, and AI is no different. Across the country, states have banned non-consensual AI exploitation, implemented AI consumer protections, and required businesses to disclose AI usage.
“Yet, Trump has ordered the Justice Department to sue states for regulating AI. He also directed the Secretary of Commerce to withhold internet expansion funds from these states. For Wisconsin, this means losing over $363 million of our federal $1.06 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding. We need these funds to improve internet access for rural and underserved families across Wisconsin. Withholding these Congressionally-allocated funds is unconstitutional and harms working families.
“I joined a bipartisan coalition of 164 legislators from 24 states to demand the release of these funds. I will continue fighting for Wisconsin’s full broadband and internet expansion, despite the whims of Trump or his AI tech billionaire buddies.”
