Stimulus money could fuel massive broadband effort

Gianforte’s commerce director suggests lawmakers put $350 million toward lifting the state from near-last-in-the-nation connectivity.

HELENA — Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman said March 17 he’d like to see lawmakers put at least $350 million from Montana’s share of the new federal coronavirus relief package into a major initiative boosting broadband connectivity across the state.

Details of the proposal are scarce, and likely subject to negotiations as lawmakers hammer out funding and policy specifics in the coming days. However, the pitch by the administration of Gov. Greg Gianforte signals that boosting access to high-speed internet is likely to be a major emphasis for policymakers as they work out how to spend the nearly $3 billion dollars coming to Montana under the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Joe Biden.