Governor Gianforte celebrates rural broadband investment

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte this week joined Spectrum to announce the expansion of its fiber broadband network to connect more than 1,200 additional homes and small businesses in previously unserved or underserved areas of Cascade County, including the communities of Ulm and Vaughn.

“Expanding access to reliable high-speed internet creates more opportunity for Montanans, particularly in our rural communities,” Gov. Gianforte said. “It’s great to celebrate continued investments in broadband across Montana that help bridge the digital divide, connect families, support local businesses, and strengthen communities across our state.”

Gov. Gianforte joined local leaders and Spectrum representatives to mark the broadband expansion in Cascade County.

“Spectrum is bringing gigabit broadband to more rural communities across Montana,” said Matt Mangan, Area Vice President of Spectrum Field Operations. “Our investment in Cascade County is providing residents and small businesses with reliable connectivity at highly competitive prices, backed by a team of skilled local technicians and 100% U.S.-based customer service.”

The investment in Cascade County is part of Spectrum’s multiyear rural construction initiative, a $7 billion investment to add more than 100,000 miles of fiber network infrastructure. This supports the effort to serve more than 1.7 million new locations across the country.

The expansion was funded in part by a grant through the Montana Broadband Office’s ConnectMT Program. ConnectMT was established through legislation and signed into law by Gov. Gianforte in 2021 to support broadband deployment in areas of the state in need of improved connectivity. The program is supported by federal funding provided to Montana through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Expanding access to reliable broadband is a top priority for Gov. Gianforte. After the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program in 2023, Gov. Gianforte was one of the first governors in the nation to issue a letter of intent to apply for the planning grant, allowing the Montana Department of Administration to quickly apply and secure the resources necessary to ensure every Montanan has access to reliable broadband.

In November 2025, Gov. Gianforte announced NTIA had given final approval to Montana’s BEAD proposal, allocating over $300 million to increase the state’s connectivity.