The Governor’s Office revealed on Tuesday that a $300 million federal funding proposal to enhance broadband access in Montana has been approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration granted funds to 18 states for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding. This initiative aims to boost internet connectivity nationwide.
Gov. Greg Gianforte emphasized the administration’s commitment to securing resources for broadband expansion in underserved Montana areas, stating: “Since this historic funding became available, my administration has been dedicated to making sure Montana remains a leader to secure the resources we need to deploy broadband services to Montanans in unserved and underserved areas.”
Montana’s Communications Advisory Commission approved the broadband plan in August. This plan involves significant investments from Amazon and SpaceX’s StarLink, though both companies have not commented on the BEAD awards.
The completion of some fiber optic projects has faced obstacles, including railroad company issues. Federal rule changes prompted a swift resubmission of BEAD applications, with a focus on speed and scalability.
Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles noted: “We were proud that Montana was the first state to open its BEAD application portal back on August 13, 2024, and are thrilled to again be one of the first states to receive NTIA approval to deploy BEAD funding.”
The Governor’s Office confirmed that the funding supports 19 service providers and 32 projects, aiming to connect over 68,000 unserved and underserved “Broadband Serviceable Locations.” These projects will also benefit more than 180 community anchor institutions such as health service offices, schools, and libraries.
