The American Indian Policy Institute’s Indigenous Leadership Academy (ILA) continues to highlight the journeys of its alumni through the “Where Are They Now?” series. This installment features Marcus Benally, a financial leader, mentor, and connector of people whose impact has extended across Native communities and professional networks alike.
Read the fact sheet to learn more.
Summary:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released Internet Access Services: Status as of June 20, 2024, estimating 549 million internet connections nationwide with breakdowns by technology type, speed, and state or territory.
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.
For Tribal Nations, the rise of AI represents a critical juncture. This technology holds potential to expand resources and enhance access across key industries such as healthcare, law and finance. With intentional policy frameworks and proactive Tribal governance, AI could strengthen self-determination and sovereignty. But without strategic oversight and culturally-informed design, it also risks deepening existing disparities; exacerbating employment displacement, cultural misrepresentation and worsening gaps in digital access.
In rural Tribal communities across the United States, public radio is more than a source of news and entertainment; it's a lifeline. These stations deliver critical infrastructure for communication and connection, especially in areas where broadband access and even phone lines remain limited or nonexistent. Tribal radio broadcasts emergency alerts during storms, helps locate missing persons, shares local news, and preserves language, memory, and identity.
The federal budget consists of both mandatory and discretionary spending. Mandatory spending, such as the annual costs of programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, is determined by formulas and program eligibility criteria outlined in existing laws.
Congress is actively working to finalize this year’s federal budget bill, referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (the Act). The Act reflects the Trump Administration’s budget and policy priorities for Fiscal Year 2025, including many related to wireless spectrum.
On February 28, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding its upcoming AWS-3 spectrum band auction. The NPRM follows Congress’s recent enactment of the Spectrum and Secure Technology and Innovation Act of 2024 (the Act).