Montana taking another look at scoring for broadband projects

HELENA (KPAX) – A state fee says it needs to take extra time to complete its scoring course of earlier than deciding divide up $260 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for upgrading broadband web service.

Montana’s ARPA Communications Advisory Fee introduced Monday that state ARPA director Scott Mendenhall would return over the preliminary rankings of the 75 initiatives that utilized for a share of the funding.

Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, who chairs the fee, mentioned it was value it to place “an unbiased set of eyes” on the scoring that may ultimately assist decide which initiatives get grants.

“On the finish of the day, our job is to guarantee that we do what’s finest for Montana,” he mentioned. “And I can guarantee you, that that’s occurring.”

Ellsworth mentioned the choice to have Mendenhall have a look at the scoring is available in response to public testimony. Throughout a public assembly earlier this month, some native telecom firms questioned the rankings, saying the scoring missed a few of their initiatives’ benefits.

Ellsworth mentioned the preliminary rankings had been at all times preliminary, and this isn’t a “re-scoring.” He mentioned the Montana Division of Administration and its contractor have accomplished good work to this point. No new info can be added to the purposes at this level.

“I’ve promised an open and totally vetted course of to the general public, so Director Mendenhall will decide a number of folks and undergo and double-check our homework,” Ellsworth mentioned. “On the finish of the day, I feel we’ll find yourself with a product that serves Montana finest.”

The 46 initiatives on the prime of the preliminary rankings coated elements of 21 counties, with the bulk in western and central Montana. 20 of the top-ranked initiatives had been from a single firm, Constitution Communications — placing the nationwide firm in place to obtain as much as $126 million, almost half of the out there funding.

Bridger Mahlum, a state authorities affairs director with Constitution, mentioned Monday they hoped any evaluate of the scoring could be full and constant for all candidates. He mentioned Constitution understood and appreciated the fee’s need to be thorough, however that they had been involved extending the method might delay the corporate’s initiatives which might be in any other case prepared to start out this yr.

“These initiatives are shovel-ready, however might not essentially be snow-shovel-ready,” Mahlum mentioned.

Jon Metropoulos, representing the candidates Tri County Phone and Gallatin Wi-fi, supported the fee’s motion.

“The principles of the sport had been set by the payments; you’ve got the discretion to do that,” he mentioned. “You’re not altering the principles in any respect by doing a really cautious job, so thanks for doing all of your job.”

Ellsworth mentioned there’s no particular timeline but for when the ultimate scoring may very well be accomplished.