Press Release

Fiber expansions in the Montana cities of Billings and Great Falls have been announced by Ziply Fiber.

News provided by: Ziply Fiber

Ziply Fiber today announced a bold expansion throughout major cities in Montana, including Billings and Great Falls, which both have new, ultra-high-speed, 100-percent fiber-optic networks ready for service to thousands of residential and business customers. Installations are underway in Billings and will begin in Great Falls later this week. These are the first two cities of at least five in the state with brand new, state-of-the-art fiber infrastructure being built by Ziply Fiber, which previously had only offered service in the communities of Libby and Troy.

When construction is complete, Ziply Fiber’s new network will serve nearly 19,000 homes and businesses in Billings and nearly 10,000 addresses in Great Falls.

Ziply Fiber is at work on network expansion efforts in Missoula, Helena and Butte, as well. The company expects to launch those markets, with an additional 26,000 addresses, in the next few months.

Residential customers in all fiber markets can access speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 50 Gig. All Ziply Fiber plans offer symmetrical download/upload speeds and the company’s entry-level Fiber 100 plan exceeds the minimum residential broadband speed required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with no contracts or data caps.

This means that as of today, both Billings and Great Falls now have the fastest household internet speeds in the nation. Customers at every speed tier can be confident they’re on the best and fastest network available, giving them great speed and reliable service for everything they want to do online today and into the future.

“Expansion in Montana has been a long time coming and I’m so thankful that the day is finally here,” said Harold Zeitz, CEO of Ziply Fiber. “I can’t tell you the number of people and business owners who have reached out to us asking when we’re coming and telling us stories of the limited options they have and what fast, reliable fiber will mean to them. Today we help fulfill that wish.”

To get content like this delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter.

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – This week, the Montana Food Bank Network, along with partners Albertsons and Safeway introduced their Campaign for Bigger Impact to help raise the $3 million left in their $15 million capital campaign.

I spoke with Bill Matthews, Chief Development Officer about the continuing fundraising campaign.

The Montana Food Bank Network hopes to Raise the Remaining $3 Million

“At the Montana Food Bank Network, we’ve been working on a project for the last few years,” began Matthews. “It’s actually a silent phase of our capital campaign to build a new facility here in Missoula, to really expand our operations across the state, to have more food storage and more food distribution across the state, to our food banks and food pantries in every nook and cranny of the state of Montana in all 56 counties where we operate.”

Matthews detailed the impact that the Montana Food Bank Network has on the hungry in Montana.

Matthews Detailed the Alarming Statistics on Hunger in Montana

“One in nine Montanans don’t have enough food on the table, and that includes one in six children, so the need is just getting greater all the time,” he said. “The Montana Food Bank Network is the only statewide food bank in the state, and we distribute food to over 360 network partners that and that includes food banks, food pantries, schools, senior centers, shelters, and tribal centers.”

Along with shopping at participating Albertsons and Safeway stores in Missoula and throughout the state, Matthews provided more ways to help the MFBN reach its goal.

READ MORE: Montana Food Bank Network Receives Large Food Donation

Visit the Montana Food Bank Network’s Website for more Details

“People can go to our website,” he said. “We’re going to have posters up in all 40 stores across the state, and they’re going to help out through social media and their own websites to direct people to our donation page for the project itself. So, that’s what’s really going on over the next three months, which will really help out.”

The new facility is expected to be completed by July, 2025.

Affordable living in Montana. Now that may sound like something that seems impossible, especially if you are looking to move to certain areas like Bozeman, Kalispell, or Missoula. Thankfully, there are still towns/cities that are making national news for being the most affordable/cheapest to live in, in the United States.

A top name in finance, Kiplinger Personal Finance, has come out with a list of the 25 cheapest cities to live in throughout the U.S. and one Montana city has made the list. This city came in at #16!

It really wasn’t a surprise when reading the list to see this city on it. There are so many things to do in and around this city, it’s no wonder people are starting to flock there.

What city in Montana made the list for one of the one of the cheapest cities to live in, in the U.S.?

Great Falls

Great Falls has over 60 parks and 52 miles of River’s Edge Trail along the scenic Missouri River. Not only that, but when you are walking the land in Great Falls, you are walking among the history of the Blackfeet Indians and Lewis and Clark.

With a population of a little over 60k, Great Falls is actually the third largest city in Montana. Great Falls is ideal for any outdoor enthusiast that loves hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, skiing and more.

GREAT FALLS BAR NAMED BEST ON PLANET EARTH BY GQ

You will find yourself within driving distance to both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Full of local restaurants and cafes, you will have some of the most delicious food all while supporting the community. Do yourself a favor and give Great Falls a visit, you will most likely understand how it made the list of top 25 cheapest cities to live in, in the U.S.

cc: Kiplinger Personal Finance