The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in November 2021, provides $550 billion in federal spending focusing on infrastructure. IIJA included two formulaic broadband grant programs for States, U.S. Territories and Tribes administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program provided $42,45 billion for broadband infrastructure deployment and adoption programs across 50 states and five territories and State Digital Equity Capacity Program provided $1.44 billion.
In preparation for receiving the additional broadband grant funds, the State of Montana passed SB 531 on May 19, 2023 that established the IIJA Communication Advisory Commission and enabled the Montana Department of Administration (DOA) to take steps necessary to administer the federal grant programs.
The State of Montana was awarded $629 million under the BEAD program and is currently awaiting NTIA approval on its Initial Proposal Volume 2 in order to begin the subgrantee application process. Through initial benchmarking DOA estimates 65,167 locations may receive access to high-speed, reliable internet under the BEAD program
The State of Montana has been awarded $6.9 million under the State Digital Equity Capacity Program. The DOA submitted its application to the NTIA on May 28, 2024 and is currently awaiting NTIA approval.
For more information, please review SB 531 and check this website often for updates on program development.