Montana

Montana First in Nation to Open BEAD Portal

Gov Greg Gianforte (R-MT) announced that the State of Montana will be the first state in the nation to open its Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) application portal. On August 1, Gov.

Visionary eyes fiber frenzy in American West

Wyoming-based Visionary Broadband’s got quite the resume in both the fiber and wireless space. Visionary won nearly $27 million in ARPA grant awards to provide fiber broadband in remote areas of Wyoming. It’s also got a foothold in Colorado, Montana and Washington state. State grants have helped Visionary recently gain seven new markets, said CEO Brian Worthen. Those include three markets in Colorado, two in Montana and two in Wyoming.

Ziply eyes Montana as new frontier for its fiber

Ziply Fiber has set its sights on Montana for its next expansion. The operator unveiled plans to build fiber to nearly 29,000 addresses in Billings and Great Falls—marking Ziply’s first major expansion in the state. Previously, it only offered service in the towns of Libby and Troy. Ryan Luckin, Ziply’s VP of marketing, said that Ziply will use a combination of buried and aerial fiber for the deployments and expects to complete construction in Billings and Great Falls by the fall. Ziply’s also plotting to turn up another 26,000 addresses with fiber in Missoula, Helena and Butte.

Governor Gianforte Celebrates TDS Telecom Fiber Broadband Expansion in Montana

Governor Greg Gianforte celebrated the expansion of TDS Telecoms’ (TDS) network across Montana at its new facility in Butte. The $21 million investment in Butte represents one component of TDS’ larger $160 million investment in Montana. In addition to Butte, TDS is building fiber networks in Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula.

NTIA approves Montana’s digital equity plan

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration approved Montana’s plan to expand digital access, skills and affordability as part of the federal $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act. Montana’s Digital Opportunity Plan listed barriers to digital access, which include broadband availability, service affordability, device access, and digital skills—with access and affordability being the top two. The plan is intended to serve as a guide for the state’s efforts to narrow the digital divide.

Montana’s Digital Equity Plan Accepted

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has accepted Montana’s Digital Equity plan. The Digital Equity Act, part of the Internet for All initiative and a key piece of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion.

Analysis

What's Your State's Digital Equity Plan?

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

Monday, February 12, 2024

Analysis