Montana has submitted its final proposal for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, seeking approval for its $308 million plan to expand internet access statewide.
The proposal, managed by the Montana Broadband Office, would bring connectivity to about 72,000 homes, businesses and community anchor institutions, with an additional $148 million in private investment from participating providers.
The plan combines fiber-optic, fixed wireless and satellite service, with the top awardees securing $103 million to serve about 8,000 locations in Park and Stillwater counties; $60 million to cover about 4,000 locations in Pondera, Cascade, Fergus, Lewis and Clark, and Rosebud counties; and $27 million to expand service to about 2,400 locations in Carbon, Cascade, Flathead and Missoula counties.
Satellite providers also received funding. A major telecommunications company was awarded $34 million to connect about 20,400 locations in Montana’s most remote areas. Another large provider was awarded $16 million to provide service to roughly 26,500 locations, complementing other expansion efforts.
The broadband office ran a multi-phase selection process, including prequalification, a main round and a federally required “Benefit of the Bargain” round. Awards were prioritized by lowest cost per location and secondary factors such as technical performance. Priority projects were defined as those delivering at least 100/20 Mbps speeds, no more than 100 milliseconds latency and scalability for future demand.
Montana has now committed more than $600 million in broadband grants, including prior previous funding announcements. If approved, awarded companies will have four years to complete their buildouts. Gov. Gianforte has said the plan will finally bring service to every citizen and help close the state’s digital divide.
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