BEAD Application Portal Opens Aug. 13

HELENA, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte announced on Aug 12th, that the State of Montana will be the first state in the nation to open its Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) application portal.

“This generational investment for Montana’s communities can’t wait any longer,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montana moved quickly to put together an application for the BEAD program, and tomorrow, we are taking the first steps to get the funding out the door. By bridging the digital divide, we’re expanding access to good-paying jobs, high quality education, and affordable health care for Montanans across the state.”

On August 1, Gov. Gianforte announced the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) had given final approval to Montana’s BEAD proposal, allocating nearly $629 million to increase the state’s connectivity.

Those interested may submit main-round applications to the Montana Broadband Office’s (MBO) ConnectMT portal beginning tomorrow, August 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. MT. The close date for applications will remain October 15, 2024. The application and additional resources can be accessed 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.

"After Governor Gianforte tasked the MBO with the goal of truly bridging the digital divide for all Montanans, we worked to ensure the BEAD application portal would be ready to open the moment we received NTIA approval," said Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles. “This funding provides Montana with the resources needed to meet the unique challenges of our state and expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas of our state.”

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

When 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 the Department of Administration to move quickly and apply to secure the resources necessary to deliver broadband to Montanans in unserved and underserved communities.