ConnectMT ARPA Broadband Lightning Round Application

This funding authority is pursuant to section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), H.R. (House of Representatives) 1319, Public Law No.117-2, as well as to Montana’s 67th Legislature HB (House Bill) 632, also pursuant to Montana’s 67th Legislature SB (Senate Bill) 297, signed May 11, 2021, establishing Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Laws, and establishing the Connect Montana Act. On March 11, 2021, ARPA was signed into law by President Biden. Section 9901 of ARPA establishes the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Under the U.S. Treasury’s Interim Final Rule, 31 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 35, the Secretary of the Treasury issued its Interim Final Rule to implement the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the ARPA-21. On September 20, 2021, the U.S. Treasury issued its Interim Final Rule regarding the 602 Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and the 602 Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, allocating $275 million to the state of Montana. The 602 Coronavirus Local and State Fiscal Recovery Funds, in combination with 604 Capital Projects Fund (CPF), were distributed through a competitive awards process to promote the deployment of improved broadband internet connectivity in Montana. During the 68th Legislative Session, an additional $44,148,748 of 602 funds to this program was passed by an appropriation change. The State applied to Treasury and received approval for $119.9 million of 604 CPF funds, increasing funding for grant awards from $266 million to approximately $310 million.

Broadband implementation within unserved or underserved regions of Montana.

Eligible applicants for the ConnectMT ARPA Lightning Round include providers with authorization to do business in the State, have demonstrated technical, financial, and managerial resources and experience to provide broadband service or other communications services to customers in the State.