NCTA CEO: U.S. Must Strengthen Internet Infrastructure to Win Global AI Race

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2025 — As the United States and China compete for global dominance in artificial intelligence, a growing number of policymakers and industry leaders say America’s true advantage may lie not in algorithms or data, but in the strength of its internet infrastructure.

Former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, who became CEO of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association in September, wrote for Fox News this week arguing that “better internet infrastructure” was the nation’s secret weapon in the race for AI leadership. Without continued investment and coordinated national policy, Gardner warned, China could surpass the U.S. by leveraging centralized government planning to build out broadband and wireless networks at scale.

“The United States must win the global race for AI domination against China,” Gardner wrote. “Our success depends on thriving innovation and robust investment. But the third component of victory can’t be overlooked: The U.S. urgently needs even better internet infrastructure.”

Gardner warned that China’s government was pursuing a coordinated national plan to build advanced connectivity for artificial intelligence.

“The Chinese Communist Party understands that AI supremacy depends not only on data and algorithms, but on leveraging a national approach to building the infrastructure and connectivity required to develop and deploy advanced AI systems,” he said.

He added that China was attempting to replace U.S. Wi-Fi standards with domestic alternatives, giving it an advantage in how global networks evolve. “If China takes the lead on any kind of internet infrastructure, it will soon take the lead on AI, too,” Gardner wrote.

Gardner highlighted progress made by the American cable industry, noting that 87 percent of networks already offer gigabit speeds. Over the past two decades, $340 billion in private capital has been invested to build broadband infrastructure, generating $568.7 billion in economic output in 2024 and supporting more than 1.3 million jobs nationwide, according to the article.

“These infrastructure investments matter — but they must also be matched by commitment from government, as part of a national strategy to extend U.S. internet leadership,” he wrote. “This is what national strength looks like: private capital fueling the public good.”

Gardner pointed to states such as California, Texas and Florida as examples of where cable infrastructure has had significant economic impact, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

He also called for a “better national policy on unlicensed spectrum” — the frequencies that power Wi-Fi — to ensure the United States maintains its lead in wireless innovation.

“Winning the AI race will require focus and urgency,” Gardner wrote. “Now is the time to leverage America’s strengths, doubling down on Wi-Fi capacity, broadband connectivity and the infrastructure that makes them possible.”