Montana Ramps Up Broadband Expansion as Trump Admin Cuts Red Tape

HELENA — The Trump administration has fundamentally restructured the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, eliminating key Biden-era requirements and embracing what officials call “technology neutrality.” For Montana, which has $629 million in federal broadband funding to deploy, these changes mean starting over with a new application process and expanded options for internet service providers.

What Changed Under Trump

The new BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, released by the Department of Commerce, strips away numerous requirements that were central to the Biden administration’s broadband strategy:

Technology Requirements: The previous “fiber-first” preference is gone. All broadband technologies—fiber, cable, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, and both licensed and unlicensed fixed wireless—now compete on equal footing.

Social Policy Requirements Eliminated: The Trump administration removed requirements for:

• Labor and workforce development programs
• Climate change and environmental justice considerations
• Net neutrality and open access provisions
• Extensive community stakeholder engagement
• Middle-class affordability plans
• Preferences for cooperatives and other non-traditional providers

New Scoring Criteria: The primary consideration is now the lowest cost to the federal program, with secondary factors including speed of deployment and network capabilities.

Streamlined Environmental Review: The administration aims to cut environmental review times from 3-6 months to just two weeks for 90% of projects.

Montana’s Response

Montana has moved quickly to adapt to the new federal guidelines. The state reopened its BEAD prequalification application process from June 13-27, 2025, specifically inviting unlicensed fixed wireless providers to participate—a technology category that wasn’t previously eligible.

Governor Greg Gianforte praised the changes, stating they will help Montana “connect every corner of our state with reliable, high-speed internet.” The governor emphasized that the new approach prioritizes getting broadband to unserved areas quickly and cost-effectively.

Montana was the first state to open its original BEAD application portal under the Biden administration and appears positioned to maintain that leadership under the new rules. The Montana Broadband Office must now rescind any preliminary awards made under the old system and conduct what’s called a “Benefit of the Bargain Round” where all provider types can compete.

What This Means for Rural Communities

The policy shift represents competing philosophies about how to close America’s digital divide. The Biden approach emphasized fiber optic infrastructure as the gold standard and incorporated broader social policy goals. The Trump approach prioritizes speed and cost-effectiveness, arguing that multiple technologies can effectively serve rural areas.

For Montana’s rural communities, this could mean:

• Faster deployment timelines as environmental reviews are streamlined
• More provider options, including satellite and wireless companies
• Potentially lower costs as providers compete without technology preferences
• Different service quality depending on which technology wins in each area

The state has 90 days to submit its updated Final Proposal to the federal government, setting up a rapid timeline for reshaping Montana’s broadband future.

Looking Ahead

With $629 million at stake, Montana’s broadband deployment strategy will likely look significantly different than originally planned. The emphasis on technology neutrality means rural Montanans might receive high-speed internet through satellite dishes or wireless towers rather than buried fiber cables.

The success of this approach will ultimately be measured by whether it achieves the core goal both administrations share: connecting every American to reliable, high-speed internet. For Montana, with its vast distances and challenging geography, the expanded technology options may prove crucial to reaching the state’s most isolated communities.