Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) / Digital Equity (DE)

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 State Digital Equity Capacity Program provided $1.44 billion. The Montana Department of Administration (DOA) worked with key stakeholders to develop and submit the Montana Digital Opportunity Plan. On May 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce rescinded the DE Capacity Grant Awards nationwide.

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.  The State of Montana was awarded ~$629 million under the BEAD Program.

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 to take steps necessary to administer the federal grant programs. For more information, please refer to SB 531 and check this website for updates on program development.

The DOA conducted community engagement, developed the BEAD 5 Year Action Plan, defined the DOA’s subgrantee selection process in the Initial Proposal Volume I and II, administered a Benefit of the Bargain subgrantee selection process and submitted its Final Proposal to the NTIA. On November 18, 2025, the NTIA approved Montana’s Final Proposal. The DOA is awaiting NIST approval to enter into grant agreements with the recommended projects.

Once grant agreements are executed, subgrantees will have four years to support Montana’s objective of bringing broadband to all.  

• State of Montana BEAD 5 Year Action Plan
• State of Montana DO Plan - Cancelled May 9, 2025
• Initial Proposal Volume I
• Initial Proposal Volume II
• Final Proposal - Approved January 5, 2026
  • MT BEAD Final Proposal
  • MT BEAD Environmental and Historical Preservation Plan
  • MT BEAD Program Monitoring Plan
  • FP CAI.csv
  • FP DEPLOYMENT PROJECTS.csv
  • FP LOCATIONS.csv
  • FP NO BEAD LOCATIONS.csv
  • FP SUBGRANTEES.csv

Submitted Plans

• Approved 5 Year Action Plan
• Digital Opportunity Plan- Cancelled 5/9/2025
• Approved Initial Proposal Volume I
  • Underserved_Montana_post-challenge.csv - FINAL
  • Unserved_Montana_post-challenge.csv - FINAL
• Approved Initial Proposal Volume II
• Final Proposal - Approved January 5, 2026
  • MT BEAD Final Proposal
  • MT BEAD Environmental and Historical Preservation Plan
  • MT BEAD Program Monitoring Plan
  • FP CAI.csv
  • FP DEPLOYMENT PROJECTS.csv
  • FP LOCATIONS.csv
  • FP NO BEAD LOCATIONS.csv
  • FP SUBGRANTEES.csv

Environmental and Permitting

• Federal Resources
  • FAQ NEPA for BEAD
  • Permitting and Environmental Information Mapping Application
  • Permitting Roundtables Interagency Collaboration
  • Smart Start NEPA Compliance for BEAD
  • The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Program Comment for Federal Communications Projects Flowchart
  • BLM ROW

General Information

• Buy America Build America (BABA) Waiver
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• General Conditions Federal Prevailing Wages
• Subgrantee Selection Scoring Rubric
• BEAD Program Surety Bonds
• USDA Rural Utilities Service
  • "USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Programs provide a variety of loans and grants to build and expand broadband networks. Loans to build broadband networks and deliver service to rural households and businesses, provide capital for rural telecommunications companies and broadband providers. Grants are reserved for communities with the highest need."
  • Telecom Programs | Rural Development

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

• About NTIA

  • "The BroadbandUSA program, housed within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), serves state, local, and tribal governments, industry, and nonprofits that seek to expand broadband connectivity and promote digital inclusion."

    • Home | BroadbandUSA

• NTIA BEAD Program

  • "The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."

    • NTIA BEAD FAQ
    • Modified BEAD NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity)
    • BEAD NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity)
    • Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program | BroadbandUSA
    • IIJA/BEAD Initial Proposal Guidance Volumes I & II
    • BEAD Allocation Methodology
    • Map of High Cost Areas
    • High-Cost Areas by Census Block
    • NTIA BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice
• NTIA State Broadband Initiative

  • "Launched in 2009, NTIA’s State Broadband Initiative (SBI) implements the joint purposes of the Recovery Act and the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which envisioned a comprehensive program, led by state entities or non-profit organizations working at their direction, to facilitate the integration of broadband and information technology into state and local economies. Economic development, energy efficiency, and advances in education and health care rely not only on broadband infrastructure, but also on the knowledge and tools to leverage that infrastructure."

    • State Broadband Initiative | BTOP / SBI Archived Grant Program

• NTIA Grants

  • "NTIA administers grant programs that further the deployment and use of broadband and other technologies in America, laying the groundwork for sustainable economic growth; improved education, public safety, and health care; and the advancement of other national priorities."

    • Grants | National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• Rural Digital Opportunity Fund | Federal Communications Commission
• FCC National Broadband Map

• DRAFT MT BEAD Grant Agreement 3/2/2026
• DRAFT MT BEAD Grant Agreement Exhibits 2/9/2026
• BEAD Performance Bond Template

• ConnectMT BEAD Disbursement Process Guide - March 2026
• BOM Template
• LEO Location List
• Location List
• Permit Status Summary
• Active Subscriber Test
• FWA Design Template
• Project Timeline Template
• User Guides – Euna Grants Support

• Environmental and Permitting Materials
• ConnectMT BEAD EHP Guide
• ConnectMT BEAD EHP Questionnaire
• NTIA ESAPTT Overview
• Permitting | BroadbandUSA
• NTIA Key Permitting Resources

Reason Code 5 Submission:

• Reason Code 5 Language

Existing Applicant Information:

• Main Round Application Guide Addendum - July 2025
• LEO Satellite Design Submission Template - July 2025
• Application Certifications Template - July 2025
• Locations List Template - July 2025
• Montana CAC Approved Scoring Rubric

New Applicant Information:

• Montana BEAD Benefit of the Bargain Guide
• Montana CAC Approved Scoring Rubric
• Benefit of the Bargain Round Glossary - July 2025
• Locations List Template - July 2025
• Network Diagram Officer Attestation Template - July 2025
• LEO Satellite Design Submission Template - July 2025
• Instructions for adding Priority Evidence Collection Questions in the Benefit of the Bargain (BotB) application
• Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Evidence Submission - July 2025 Template
  • Instructions Manual for FTTP Evidence Template - July 2025
• Hybrid-Fiber Coaxial Evidence Submission - July 2025 Template 
  • Instructions Manual for HFC Evidence Submission - July 2025
• Low Earth Orbit Satellite Evidence Submission - July 2025 Template
  • Instruction Manual for LEO Evidence Template - July 2025
• Licensed Fixed Wireless Evidence Submission - July 2025 Template
  • Instruction Manual for LFW Evidence Template - July 2025
• Unlicensed Fixed Wireless Evidence Submission - July 2025 Template
  • Instruction Manual for ULFW Evidence Template - July 2025

The Montana Broadband Office (MBO) is pleased to announce the reopening of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Prequalification Application in accordance with the June 6 NTIA BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which expands participation and modifies and replaces non-statutory regulatory requirements contained in the BEAD NOFO. The following are invited to participate in the Prequalification process:

• New entrants seeking to participate in the BEAD program; and
• All new and existing program applicants that previously failed the prequalification who choose to update materials to seek prequalification again.

Previously approved prequalified applicants are not required to reapply for prequalification.

Action Required by June 27, 2025

If you are interested in participating in the MT BEAD program and have not previously prequalified, please complete your prequalification application by June 27, 2025 through the AmpliFund Opportunity Page. 

Please review the webinars on Prequalification on the ConnectMT Events page and the Prequalification Application Guide updated June 13, 2025. Please note that several questions are no longer applicable and there is updated guidance e.g. for non-applicable questions the corresponding text box should contain “N/A.”

We appreciate your interest and effort in applying for Prequalification to the BEAD program. Thank you once again for your dedication to expanding broadband access in Montana. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at ConnectMTTechAssistance@mt.gov or 406-444-4099.

• MT BEAD Prequalification Application Guide
• MT BEAD Prequalification Prior Experience Template
• MT BEAD Executive Authority Template
• MT BEAD Existing Broadband Projects Template

The documents reflect the BEAD Main Round Application Guide and supplemental materials. As such, they are subject to revisions and enhancements. Please note that the State of Montana reserves the right to provide updates or modifications as necessary.

• MT BEAD Main Round User Guide
• MT BEAD Main Round Glossary
• MT BEAD Main Round CBG Spreadsheet
• MT BEAD Main Round Pro Forma Template
• MT BEAD Main Round Model Letter of Credit
• MT BEAD Main Round Sample Legal Opinion
• MT BEAD Main Round Logical Network Diagram
• MT BEAD Main Round Project Cost Reduction Spreadsheet
• MT BEAD Main Round Project Cost Submission Template Spreadsheet
• MT BEAD Main Round Project Cost Submission Sample (Filled Example)
• MT BEAD Main Round Project Timeline
• MT BEAD Main Round Fixed Wireless Design Spreadsheet
• MT BEAD Main Round Professional Engineer Certification
• MT BEAD Preliminary Reference Funding Benchmark Final

• Post Challenge CAI csv file - Final
• Post Challenge Locations csv file - Final

As per NTIA guidelines, found in the NTIA Challenge Process Policy (Section 10.6)

0= unserved

1= underserved

2= served

NTIA Initial Proposal Volume I Challenge Process Results

• Underserved_Montana_post-challenge.csv - FINAL
• Unserved_Montana_post-challenge.csv - FINAL
• _BEAD-Initial-Proposal_Volume-I_Deduplication-of-Funding-Programs.xlsx
• _BEAD-Initial-Proposal_Volume-I_Existing-Broadband-Funding-Sources.xlsx
• _cai.csv
•   underserved.csv
• _unserved.csv
• _cai challenges.csv
• _challengers.csv
• _challenges.csv
•   post challenge cai.csv
•   post challenge locations.csv

• BEAD Letter of Credit Waiver

• State Broadband Availability Map

To request access to the Montana Broadband Application Map, please submit the form below with the necessary information. Requests will be reviewed by the Broadband team as quickly as possible.

Note: please ensure you have registered for an Okta account prior to filling out the request form.

Prior to requesting access to the Montana Broadband Application Map, users must have an Okta account. You can sign in to https://login.mt.gov in any of these ways:

• If this is your first time signing in, you may be able to sign in with your existing ePass Montana login email address, or
• By creating a new account through https://login.mt.gov

For additional assistance with Okta, you can visit https://okta.mt.gov/Help.

• BEAD Application Map