The Tribal Internet Expansion Act of 2025 expands federal requirements for providing affordable internet and telecommunications services to Indian country and areas with significant Native American populations. The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to include tribal lands and high-population Indian areas in the "universal service" principle—the same framework that currently guarantees affordable access to telecommunications in rural, insular, and high-cost regions. This change means that internet service providers receiving federal subsidies must ensure affordable broadband access reaches Native American communities as a public service obligation, similar to existing requirements for other underserved areas. The legislation affects internet service providers, telecommunications companies, and the estimated millions of Native Americans living on tribal lands or in areas with large Native American populations. While the bill text does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines, it establishes a new regulatory framework requiring the Federal Communications Commission and service providers to prioritize closing the digital divide in Indian country.
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