The Montana Broadband Office (MBO) will attempt to serve as many locations as possible using the remaining available funds based on the applications received.
Before a contract can be executed, the detailed design plan submission must be certified by a currently licensed Montana Professional Engineer. This engineer can be a resource in your organization as long as they meet that requirement.
Note: If you cannot provide this certification with your application, be prepared to provide it in the negotiation process if selected for award. (See, ConnectMT ARPA Program Lightning Round Guide, p. 26.)
Yes. MBO will accept PE licenses that are approved by the State of Montana’s Department of Labor & Industry. The license must be able to be validated using the look-up function on the Department of Labor & Industry’s website.
No, there is no bonus in scoring for providing 1 Gbps symmetrical service. However, if all locations are served by 100 Mbps symmetrical, the application will receive additional points. (See, ConnectMT ARPA Program Lightning Round Guide, p. 30.)
Yes, the same organization can submit multiple applications.
However, an organization should not submit multiple applications with overlapping project areas.
Yes, providers can include any number of locations to define the project area in their application. The Lighting Round does not have project area units defined by CBGs, like Montana’s BEAD application.
Previous participation in ARPA or successful completion of an ARPA project is not a scoring criterion for the Lightning Round.
In the initial round of ARPA funding, MBO required cash match only. The Lightning Round is consistent with that approach.
In the initial round of ARPA funding, MBO required cash match only. The Lightning Round is consistent with that approach.
No, keywords are not used for scoring. Instead, applicants wishing to earn points related to telehealth should answer question LR6.03 in the affirmative and submit a completed template with evidence in questions LR6.03a and LR6.03b. (See, ConnectMT ARPA Program Lightning Round Guide, p. 34.)
MBO will score this criterion using State data, not data provided by the applicant.
While CPF does not define a specific national low-income threshold, it prioritizes funding for projects that serve: (1) Low- and moderate-income communities; (2) Economically distressed areas; and (3) Rural and Tribal communities. Using proxy programs to determine eligibility like the former Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which defines low-income eligibility as households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or those participating in qualifying assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, SSI), is a good approach to model.
No, there is no bonus in scoring for selecting locations in proximity to areas awarded through BEAD. The Lightning Round uses the same scoring criteria as the previous ARPA round.
Please submit your most recent audited financials. FY22 or FY23 is acceptable. If FY24 audit results become available after the application deadline, but before the Communications Advisory Commission meeting on November 25, 2025, then the applicant should contact ConnectMT for guidance. Further, if an applicant is awarded then they will be expected to update MBO as soon as FY24 audit results are available.
MBO’s goal is to announce awards at the November 25, 2025, Communications Advisory Commission (CAC) meeting. MBO will then award projects and distribute initial funds in November/December 2025 so awarded providers have as much time as possible to finish design, permitting, and materials procurement before the 2026 construction season.
The ConnectMT ARPA Program does not have set milestones for reimbursement. As under the existing ARPA contracts, reimbursement requests should be submitted no more than every 30 days. (See, ConnectMT Reimbursement Quick Tips, p. 1.)
MBO expects to award new contracts but may amend existing contracts if the project scope makes it expedient for MBO and the provider to do so.
No. NTIA has provided explicit direction to the State of Montana that these locations do not qualify for BEAD. Further, the State is not allowed to associate proposed service to these
locations with the BEAD program. Therefore, these locations are not eligible to be removed from ARPA due to BEAD commitments.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Lighting Round Technical Assistance Webinar for further clarification on the scoring criteria and how points will be awarded. The Additional Community Commitments points will be evaluated separately based on the evidence provided. Any healthcare facility or community center location named must be an eligible location in the Lightning Round.
Applicants wishing to receive points for providing new service to an identified health care location that provides telehealth services will need to complete the Healthcare Location Template and provide sufficient evidence from the health care facility that telehealth services will be provided through the facility. The location must be considered “served” as defined by the FCC as of September 30, 2026.
Applicants wishing to receive points for providing free service to a community center will need to complete the Community Center Identification Template and provide sufficient evidence and agreement from the community center that the community center will receive free service for three years from the connection date, which must occur by September 30, 2026.
A Subrecipient may submit for reimbursement costs incurred for materials and equipment in Subrecipient’s inventory after March 15, 2021, and used for the benefit of the Project after the effective date of the grant agreement, provided the costs would have been allowable if incurred after the effective date of the grant agreement.
No other costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant agreement will be paid with funding from this award.
No other costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant agreement will be paid with funding from this award.
Subrecipients are encouraged but not required to provide a preference for the procurement or use of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States.
Based on the SLFRF and CPF Supplementary Broadband Guidance published by Treasury, subrecipients receiving a fixed amount subaward are not required to comply with the costs principles and procurement practices of the Uniform Guidance.
The Department is currently distributing amendments to subrecipients, in order to update the Grant Agreement to reflect Treasury's guidance.
Procurement decisions are at the discretion of subrecipients who are responsible for verifying awarded contractors meet the applicable Grant Agreement terms and conditions.
Based on the SLFRF and CPF Supplementary Broadband Guidance published by Treasury, subrecipients receiving a fixed amount subaward are not required to comply with the costs principles and procurement practices of the Uniform Guidance.
The Department is currently distributing amendments to subrecipients, in order to update the Grant Agreement to reflect Treasury's guidance.
Procurement decisions are at the discretion of subrecipients who are responsible for verifying awarded contractors meet the applicable Grant Agreement terms and conditions.
The grant program requires that projects incorporate strong labor standards. The Treasury believes using these practices in construction projects may help to ensure a reliable supply of skilled labor that will minimize disruptions, such as those associated with labor disputes or workplace injuries.
Examples of strong labor standards include project labor agreements and community benefits agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and include local hire provisions.
Self-certification of the Davis-Bacon Act and a Project Labor Agreement are optional labor standards. However, if subrecipients elect not to implement these practices for their project, they will be required to report enhanced labor information and certifications when completing periodic reporting and submitting requests for reimbursement for labor costs.
The enhanced labor information includes, but may be subject to change in Treasury guidance:
Grant terms and conditions were established by the Treasury as a condition of the federal funding.
Subrecipients are encouraged but not required to provide a preference for the procurement or use of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States.
Self-certification of the Davis-Bacon Act and a Project Labor Agreement are optional labor standards. However, if subrecipients elect not to implement these practices on their project, they will be required to report enhanced labor information and certifications when completing periodic reporting and submitting requests for reimbursement for labor costs.
Once your request for reimbursement (RFR) is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Department of Administration. The Department may request additional information or supporting documentation from you before approving the RFR.
Once the RFR is approved, payment should be issued within 30 business days.
The Department will provide additional guidance on the request for reimbursement process. Generally, requests for reimbursement will need to be supported with sufficient documentation for the Department to evaluate that costs were incurred consistent with grant terms and conditions. Example documentation includes, but is not limited to:
Notify the Department of Administration about significant anticipated delays as soon as possible and submit a revised Project Schedule for approval.
Due to the State’s deadline to expend the grant funds, projects must be completed and all requests for reimbursement submitted to the Department by September 30, 2026.
Further, as noted in the grant agreement, all cost overruns will be the responsibility of the subrecipient.
Unserved areas where at least 10% of the delivery points (locations) do not currently have access to broadband service of at least 25 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed with low latency.
Underserved areas that have no access to broadband service with download speeds greater than 100 Mbps and upload speeds greater than 20 Mbps with low latency.
The ConnectMT program defines a frontier area as an area that lacks connectivity services of less than or equal to 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.
An ‘unserved area’ is defined by the program as an area that lacks access to low latency service of at least 25 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
Capital expenses are dollar costs to build the network asset (large upfront cost). They can include material, land, labor for construction and connection, engineering, permitting, upgrades and replacements, and construction equipment.
Non-capital expenses (Operational Expenses) are the day-to-day (ongoing) cost to run and maintain a network to provide services. They can include power, network maintenance, middle mile and/or core Internet transit fees (if any), sales and marketing, customer support, rent, and other business operation expenses.