The Broadband Director Who Made Montana First to Open a BEAD Application Portal

Montana’s broadband efforts took a leap forward when the state became first in the nation to open its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program application portal. “We’ve been working behind the scenes to be ready,” said Misty Ann Giles, Director of the Department of Administration and Chief Operating Officer for the state of Montana. And Montana was ready. Receiving approval for their “Internet for All” proposal from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on July 30, Montana announced the opening of their BEAD application portal less than two weeks later—the first state in the nation to do so. Now that Montana’s BEAD application portal is open, prospective subgrantees have 60 days to apply. The state has a year after the NTIA’s recent approval to review applications and submit their final proposal for BEAD funding, but Giles hopes the process will move much faster. With the American Rescue Plan Act and BEAD combining for a nearly $1 billion investment in Montana broadband, Giles is enthusiastic about the opportunity to meet a critical need.