Starlink Granted $119M in Montana BEAD Award

Starlink Wins Big in Montana’s BEAD Awards

Montana has awarded $119 million in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds to SpaceX’s Starlink, marking one of the largest satellite allocations under the program to date. The award will connect approximately 20,000 underserved homes and businesses, cementing satellite as a primary solution in the state’s broadband expansion strategy.

In total, about 65 percent of Montana’s BEAD locations will be served by satellite providers, far above the national average. Starlink will cover more than 28 percent of sites, while Amazon’s Project Kuiper secured $26 million to serve nearly 37 percent. The state argues this approach allows it to stretch its allocation further, projecting that only $308 million of its $629 million budget will be required—saving more than $300 million compared to a fiber-first buildout.

Fiber vs. Satellite in State BEAD Funding

Montana’s decision is notable at a time when most states remain heavily invested in fiber deployment. In Oklahoma, for example, Starlink was awarded just a single site, while Amazon’s Kuiper won more than 4,200. In Virginia, SpaceX has openly challenged the state’s $613 million fiber-heavy plan, calling it a “massive waste of federal taxpayer money” and lobbying the Commerce Department to intervene.

The debate over satellite versus fiber continues to divide broadband stakeholders. Fiber advocates emphasize the long-term advantages of gigabit speeds, congestion-free performance, and virtually unlimited capacity. Satellite backers counter that providers like Starlink can deploy service quickly across vast rural landscapes, filling coverage gaps at a fraction of the cost. Montana’s decision illustrates how states are weighing those trade-offs as they finalize BEAD strategies.

Starlink, which recently surpassed seven million users worldwide in more than 150 countries, views BEAD funding as critical to its U.S. growth. The company is also racing to expand its satellite capacity to support gigabit-class service and to position itself as a viable alternative to fiber in remote regions. Whether other states follow Montana’s lead will depend not only on cost considerations but also on how federal regulators respond to these satellite-heavy allocations.

For now, Montana has set a precedent that could shape broadband policy far beyond its borders, spotlighting satellite as more than just a stopgap measure in the push for nationwide connectivity.

More on BEAD and Broadband

• More of our recent stories about BEAD and public broadband programs
• For up-to-date information on the $42 billion BEAD Program, check Brander Group’s BEAD funding progress dashboard