Thanks to Tester’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, High Speed Internet Expansion One Step Closer to Montana Communities

Montana can soon access $629 million in high-speed internet funding that Tester secured for the state last year

As a direct result of U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law, Montana is now one step closer to receiving $628,973,798 to build high speed internet infrastructure covering thousands of unserved locations across the state. This funding will come from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program ­­­– a program the Senator advocated for, and ultimately secured in his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).  

Senator Tester crafted the BEAD program to finally close the digital divide and ensure every corner of Montana has access to reliable, high-speed internet. Tester worked with five Republicans and four Democrats to negotiate the IIJA and was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill.

“As a farmer living in a rural area, I know that access to high speed internet is critical to bringing Montana into the 21st century and moving our economy forward,” said Tester. “That’s why I worked with Montanans to craft the BEAD program and close the digital divide. I’m proud to see our state’s application approval bring us one step closer to that goal, and I will continue to hold the state government accountable to make sure they get the job done for folks across the Treasure State.”

The $629 million in BEAD funding will prioritize building broadband infrastructure in unserved locations (areas that have no internet access, or have internet service options with speeds under 25/3 Mbps) and underserved locations (areas that have speeds under 100/20 Mbps). There will be other requirements around service quality, including low latency, which is important for real-time applications like video streaming or videoconferencing. While negotiating his bipartisan infrastructure law, Tester successfully secured a provision that sets aside 10 percent of BEAD program funding for high-cost areas. 

The State of Montana will be required to submit a final proposal within one year detailing the outcome of the internet service provider selection process for deploying broadband and how the state is ensuring internet service to all unserved locations in the state.

Tester is Montana’s leading champion for high-speed internet connectivity in rural communities. Tester secured $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and make online connectivity affordable through his bipartisan infrastructure law. 

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the IIJA, including $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.

A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.