ConnectMT Broadband Program

Investment to increase broadband connection for nearly 500,000 locations

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the approval of Montana’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) proposal, bringing his administration’s total investment in expanding broadband connection in the state to nearly $1 billion.

“Through this generational investment, Montana will continue leading the nation on expanding reliable, high-speed connections and bridging the digital divide,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We’re unlocking doors and creating greater access to good-paying jobs, high-quality education, and affordable health care.”

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approval of Montana’s BEAD proposal means an allocation of close to $629 million will come to the state to increase Gov. Gianforte’s ability to create greater connectivity.

After the NTIA announced the BEAD program in 2023, Gov. Gianforte was one of the first governors in the nation to issue a letter of intent to apply for the planning grant, allowing Montana’s Department of Administration’s (DOA) to move quickly and submit an application to secure the resources necessary to deliver broadband to nearly 500,000 Montanans in unserved and underserved communities.

“The cost to deliver broadband on the scale needed, combined with Montana’s low population density, makes it challenging to bring areas of our state online,” DOA Director Misty Ann Giles said. “BEAD funding provides a unique opportunity to meet these challenges, expanding broadband to unserved and underserved areas of Montana.”

With this latest approval, Montana has one year to launch the grant application, receive grant applications from providers, and submit selected proposals to NTIA for approval. On August 15, the BEAD portal will open for applications at ConnectMT.mt.gov.

Upon signing their grant application, selected providers will have four years to deploy broadband services to Montanans in unserved and underserved areas.

In a separate announcement last fall, Gov. Gianforte announced a historic $310 million broadband investment to extend access to reliable broadband for nearly 62,000 Montanans.

Expanding access to reliable broadband is a central element of Gov. Gianforte’s Montana Comeback Plan.

For a video from Gov. Gianforte celebrating the announcement, see here.

For providers interested in applying to be part of the BEAD process, or for Montanans interested in learning more, please visit ConnectMT.mt.gov.

NTIA approval of Digital Opportunity Plan unlocks additional funding

HELENA, Mont. – Today, Governor Gianforte announced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved the state’s plan to address disparities in digital access, skills, and affordability in Montana.

“Lack of broadband access shouldn’t stand between Montanans and opportunities for a good-paying job, greater education, and affordable, high-quality health care,” Gov. Gianforte said. “One of the top priorities of our administration is to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas of Montana, while also addressing digital literacy. With this approval, Montana is now able to compete for additional federal funds to bridge the digital divide and open doors to greater opportunities.”

NTIA’s approval of the state plan allows Montana to compete for new federal funding to continue broadband expansion efforts in support of the state’s economic, workforce, health, and educational goals.

Expanding access to reliable broadband is a central element of Governor Gianforte’s Montana Comeback Plan.

Since taking office, Governor Gianforte has taken action to expand broadband access for Montanans:

• In 2021, the governor signed the Connect MT Act into law, which provided $275 million in federal funds to expand broadband access.
• In 2022, the governor announced a $309 million investment to expand broadband access to 61,887 serviceable locations, including 38,631 in unserved communities, 21,956 in underserved communities, and 1,300 in frontier communities.
• In 2023, the State of Montana secured more than $628 million through the NTIA’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

ConnectMT Launches SpeedSurvey

Encourages Montanans to participate in statewide broadband mapping effort

August 21, 2023

HELENA, Mont. – The ConnectMT Broadband Office today launched SpeedSurvey, an online speed test to assess the download and upload speeds, latency, and jitter of internet users in Montana.

“As we work to expand access to reliable broadband in unserved and underserved Montana communities, we want to hear from Montanans about their internet service,” said Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles. “I encourage all Montanans to take the SpeedSurvey to help us learn more about connectivity issues as we work to close the digital divide.”

Montana’s SpeedSurvey site was developed by CTC Technology & Energy to help the ConnectMT team identify areas with connectivity issues by using feedback from the public.­ The tool detects the nearest server to the user’s IP address and tests latency and jitter by measuring the time it takes for the server to receive and send a reply to the user. Download and upload speeds are tested by exchanging data between the server and the user’s machine for a pre-determined length of time and averaging the speeds.

The Department of Administration can use the survey results to refine its existing broadband data and assess the affordability of internet service. The Department can also use the data to guide its own testing efforts, including sending engineers to test download and upload speeds once the survey identifies regions that need further assessment.

The survey is intended to allow anyone in Montana to report what type of broadband services are being utilized, including if there are no services available. Montanans may take the speed test and survey as many times and in as many locations as they’d like. 

SpeedSurvey is available until September 22^nd at mtspeedsurvey.com.

Governor Gianforte Announces $628 Million To Expand Broadband Access

June 26, 2023

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the State of Montana will receive more than $628 million in federal funding to expand access to reliable broadband in unserved and underserved Montana communities.

“Lack of broadband access shouldn’t stand between Montanans and opportunities for a good-paying job, greater education, and affordable, high-quality health care,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This generational funding will support Montana as we close the digital divide and open the doors to greater opportunities for all Montanans.”

The funding is made available through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which the Montana Department of Administration (DOA) began planning for in May 2022.

Shortly after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the funding opportunity, Governor Gianforte issued Montana’s letter of intent to apply for the planning grant, and DOA submitted the BEAD planning funding application packet.

On Dec. 12, 2022, DOA Director Misty Ann Giles, who leads the state’s broadband program, was notified of a $5 million BEAD planning grant award, with the planning process already well underway.

This month, the Communications Advisory Commission approved Montana’s 5-Year Action Plan, which DOA will submit to NTIA in July.

Months of local outreach and coordination activities – including two statewide roadshows, a tribal summit, a statewide internet survey, and one-on-one interviews with community leaders, telecommunication providers, and other parties – informed the action plan.

“Access to reliable and affordable broadband in today’s economy is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Montana lags behind other states in access to broadband, largely due to our state’s vast size and our beautiful, yet unique topography, making the cost of deployment significantly higher in comparison to other states,” Director Giles said.

She continued, “This historic investment will allow us to close the gap and reach unserved and underserved Montanans with reliable high-speed internet. Montana has been ahead of the curve with its planning efforts in anticipation of today’s announcement, and we’ll keep the pace to receive the necessary approvals from our partners at the NTIA to successfully deploy these dollars.”

Last fall, Governor Gianforte announced a separate, historic $309 million broadband investment to expand access to reliable broadband for 62,000 families, small businesses, farms, and ranches in Montana.

According to the Montana Broadband Office at DOA, 5 percent of Montanans live in underserved areas and 13 percent of Montanans live in unserved areas.

Expanding access to reliable broadband is a central element of Governor Gianforte’s Montana Comeback Plan.

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Governor Gianforte Announces Historic Investment in Broadband Expansion

December 14, 2022

HELENA, Mont. – Approving the recommendations of the Communications Advisory Commission, Governor Greg Gianforte today announced a $309 million investment to expand access to reliable broadband for 62,000 families, small businesses, farms, and ranches in Montana.

“Today’s a great day for Montana,” Governor Gianforte said. “Our historic, $309 million investment in broadband expansion will create new opportunities for Montanans to receive an education, access health care services, thrive in a good-paying job, and stay connected with family and loved ones. I thank the commission and Department of Administration for their hard work to expand Montanans’ access to broadband.”

Governor Gianforte, seated beside Director of Administration Misty Ann Giles, signs a letter authorizing the investment of over $309 million to expand broadband access

Last May, Governor Gianforte signed into law a bill establishing the ConnectMT program to expand access to reliable broadband in unserved and underserved Montana communities.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, about 1 in 3 Montanans do not have access to broadband, which is three times the national average. The digital divide is even greater in Montana’s rural communities where 3 in 5 Montanans do not have access to broadband.

Following a robust and transparent public process, on December 7, 2022, the Communications Advisory Commission, chaired by Senator Jason Ellsworth, approved a list of 61 broadband infrastructure projects totaling $309,080,600.16 to recommend to the governor for approval. The governor formally approved the commission’s recommendations today.

The investment will provide service to 61,887 serviceable locations in Montana. Of those locations, 38,631 will be in unserved communities, 21,956 will be in underserved communities, and 1,300 will be in frontier communities.

“I’d like to thank my team at the Department of Administration as well as the commission for their extraordinary work to bring reliable, affordable broadband to 62,000 Montana households,” said Misty Ann Giles, Director of the Department of Administration and the state’s Chief Operating Officer who leads the broadband program. “This generational expansion will help deliver greater opportunities for hardworking Montanans in education, health care, and remote work, and we look forward to the impact of this investment.”

Expanding access to reliable broadband is a central element of Governor Gianforte’s Montana Comeback Plan.

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ConnectMT Requests Public Feedback on Broadband Needs

September 1, 2022

The ConnectMT Program was developed as a result of Senate Bill 297 and House Bill 632 in Montana’s 67th legislative session and is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act which was passed by U.S. Congress in 2021. Up to $266 million will be awarded to deliver new high-speed terrestrial based broadband service for underserved, unserved, and frontier locations throughout Montana.

The Montana Department of Administration is conducting research to increase broadband access and quality across Montana. Over the next few months, researchers (Summit Consulting, LLC) will travel across six cities (Billings, Glendive, Glasgow, Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena) to conduct outreach sessions and administer surveys to Communities. This research will help to ensure a comprehensive understanding of Montanans’ internet needs and  meet the goal of increasing internet access across the State.

It is estimated that nearly 24% of Montanans do not have an internet subscription of any kind. As such, this research is crucial to increasing connectivity and bridging the digital divide to better connect residents connected for school, work, and staying in touch with friends and family. Links and details about the Montana Broadband Survey are included below; along with details about the upcoming Public and Community Leader listening sessions happening from September 7 – September 14, 2022.  

Montana residents are encouraged to complete a 10-minute survey. Community leaders and individuals who live in Montana can support this critical research by taking a 10-minute by clicking the button below:

Take Broadband Access Survey

COMMUNITY OUTREACH SESSIONS

Community leaders across Montana are invited to participate in outreach sessions the research team is conducting in cities across Montana (Billings, Glendive, Glasgow, Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena). You can RSVP for these sessions on the ConnectMT website (Home (mt.gov)).

The Montana Broadband Survey team also will host online video conferences to discuss internet access across the state if community leaders are otherwise not able to attend the in-person sessions. Community Leaders can choose this online meeting option in the above RSVP link.

All Montanans are invited to participate in townhall sessions for the general public, to share your feedback and opinions on internet access in Montana. No RSVP is required for these sessions. These sessions will be held in the following locations and dates:

BILLINGS

When: Wednesday, September 7^th from 8am to 9am

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Billings, 27 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101

GLENDIVE

When: Thursday, September 8^th from 8am to 9am 

Where: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Glendive, 1919 N Merrill Ave, Glendive, MT 59330

GLASGOW

When: Friday, September 9^th from 8am to 9am

Where: Cottonwood Inn & Suites, 54250 US-2, Glasgow, MT 59230

KALISPELL

When: Monday, September 12^th from 8am to 9am

Where: Hampton Inn Kalispell, 1140 U.S. Hwy 2 W, Kalispell, MT 5990

GREAT FALLS

When: Tuesday, September 13^th from 8am to 9am

Where: Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Rd, Great Falls, MT 59404

HELENA

When: Wednesday, September 14^th from 8am to 9am

Where: Wingate by Wyndham Helena Airport, 2007 N Oakes St, Helena, MT 59601

These six cities are not the last opportunity for you to provide feedback. The Montana Broadband Survey team will be touring the state a second time in the coming months to hear residents’ opinions on internet access. Please monitor the website for information regarding these follow-up sessions.

Montanans may contact ConnectMT@mt.govwith questions and concerns.

ConnectMT Launches Statewide Broadband Map & Opens Applications for Closing Digital Divide

February 7, 2022

Helena, Mont. - Earlier today, Governor Gianforte announced the release of the new statewide broadband map and the opening of applications for the ConnectMT Program.

The public can now view the new statewide broadband map which shows current internet service areas and where the digital divide lies throughout Montana. The broadband map will serve as a key resource and guide for providers to determine where to apply for funding. It will be updated periodically to reflect new high speed broadband service throughout the state, as well as incorporate state and federal funding awards.

“Publishing the map of current broadband service throughout the state is a key step towards bridging the digital divide,” said Department of Administration (DOA) Director Misty Ann Giles. “I applaud the collaborative effort by DOA’s broadband team, our contractor, and the state’s internet service providers to get the map stood up.”

The ConnectMT program started accepting applications today for funding to provide broadband service to areas in need throughout the state. Applications can be submitted until 12 pm MST on April 8, 2022. Up to $266 million will be awarded to deliver new high-speed terrestrial based broadband service for underserved, unserved, and frontier locations throughout Montana.

“Awarding project funding to qualified applicants will create jobs, and stimulate the economy while moving us closer to expanding access to reliable broadband for all of Montana,” DOA Director Giles said.

The ConnectMT Program was developed as a result of Senate Bill 297 and House Bill 632 in Montana’s 67^th legislative session. Under the new statute, broadband service providers (providers) need to offer at least a 20% match for any project. Providers are incentivized to engage local communities, offer free service at community anchor institutions for up to three years, and build broadband connections to facilities that will offer telehealth services. Additionally, it encourages providers to connect service to Montanans who have the greatest economic need and offer low-income service options, such as supporting enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Plan offered through the Federal Communications Commission.

The program encourages providers to use existing middle-mile infrastructure to support the new last-mile infrastructure, thereby stretching public funding to reach more unconnected Montanans by not overbuilding or duplicating existing infrastructure.

“We encourage the public to monitor the State of Montana’s ConnectMT website regarding broadband at arpa.mt.gov/Communications for updates, future announcements, and development of the ConnectMT Program,” said Broadband Program Manager, Chad Rupe.

An informational webinar for potential applicants will be offered on February 10, 2022. Eligible providers can apply to provide new broadband service throughout the state and register for the webinar at connectmt.mt.gov.

ConnectMT is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act that was passed by U.S. Congress in 2021. Governor Gianforte expects to make decisions on awards in late June 2022.

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The State of Montana Requests Information on Broadband Mapping Platforms

October 22, 2021

HELENA, MONT– The State of Montana is requesting information on a new mapping platform to carry out the ConnectMT Act program mission of deploying broadband throughout Montana.

“The ConnectMT Program will allocate at least $275 million to connect Montanans’ broadband infrastructure,” said Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles. “With this map, providers can plan projects to bridge the digital divide. By working with internet service providers, the Gianforte administration will implement ARPA goals of bridging the digital divide and enhancing digital equity.”  

The ConnectMT Act program was established during Montana’s 67^th Legislature with the passing of House Bill 632 which implemented the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Senate Bill 297 which established the ConnectMT Act program. In conjunction with House Bill 632, Senate Bill 297 authorized the creation of a broadband map to be publicly available and used to determine the served, underserved, and frontier areas of Montana.

“We encourage the public to monitor the State of Montana’s ConnectMT website regarding broadband at arpa.mt.gov/Communications for future announcements and development of the ConnectMT Program,” said Broadband Program Manager, Chad Rupe.

The Department of Administration has published a Request for Information (RFI) seeking a commercial off-the-shelf solution that meets criteria as outlined at: bids.sciquest.com/apps/Router/PublicEvent?CustomerOrg=StateOfMontana. Any vendor interested in responding must register in the electronic Montana Acquisition and Contracting System (eMACS). For more information regarding eMACS vendors should visit spb.mt.gov/eMACS-Resources.

Governor Gianforte Signs Landmark Investment in Broadband Expansion

May 11, 2021

HAMILTON, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today signed into law the ConnectMT Act, providing $275 million in federal funds to expand access to reliable broadband across Montana.

“Too many of our communities, particularly in rural and frontier Montana, don’t have access to reliable broadband,” Gov. Gianforte said in Hamilton. “Greater access to broadband will increase opportunities for Montanans, whether in ag or high-tech or other Montana industries, but we need to get more cable in the ground. Today, we make a historic investment to close the digital divide. I thank Sen. Ellsworth for being a champion for expanding Montanans’ access to broadband.”

Sponsored by Senator Jason Ellsworth (R-Hamilton), Senate Bill 297 captures $275 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for broadband deployment.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, about 1 in 3 Montanans do not have access to broadband, which is three times the national average. The digital divide is even greater in Montana’s rural communities where 3 in 5 Montanans do not have access to broadband.

“Thanks to Governor Gianforte signing SB 297 into law, Republicans’ promises to create jobs, increase access to high-quality education, and improve our broadband infrastructure are being kept,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Ellsworth. “With the potential for additional matching funds still on their way, this could be the largest broadband investment in Montana’s history – worth around half a billion dollars. There’s no doubt that this investment in Montana will pay major dividends for state of Montana.”

Expanding access to reliable broadband is a central element of Gov. Gianforte’s Montana Comeback Plan.

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