Which areas in Montana have the worst broadband coverage?

Smaller, more rural communities in Montana tend to have the fewest broadband options. The table above lists the least-populated tracked cities, which often correlate with limited provider competition and slower available speeds.

What is being done about broadband gaps in Montana?

The federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is allocating billions to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas nationwide. Montana is slated to receive funding to close coverage gaps in rural and low-income communities.

How can I report a broadband gap in Montana?

You can file a challenge on the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov if your address is incorrectly listed as having service. This data directly influences federal funding allocations.

Underserved Areas for Broadband in Montana (2026)

Millions of Americans still lack access to reliable, affordable broadband. In Montana, the digital divide is most acute in smaller communities where provider investment has been limited. The table below highlights the least-populated cities in our database — areas where broadband options are most likely to be sparse.

16 Smallest Communities Tracked in Montana

#	City	Population	Coverage Outlook
1	Lolo	3,892	Likely underserved — limited provider options
2	Bigfork	4,270	Likely underserved — limited provider options
3	Columbia Falls	5,308	Likely underserved — limited provider options
4	Laurel	7,222	Likely underserved — limited provider options
5	Whitefish	7,751	Likely underserved — limited provider options
6	Belgrade	8,029	Likely underserved — limited provider options
7	Kalispell	24,558	May have 1–2 providers
8	Helena	32,091	May have 1–2 providers
9	Butte	34,494	May have 1–2 providers
10	Bozeman	53,293	May have 1–2 providers
11	Great Falls	60,442	May have 1–2 providers
12	Missoula	73,489	May have 1–2 providers
13	Cascade	84,414	May have 1–2 providers
14	Billings	117,116	May have 1–2 providers
15	Seeley Lake	N/A	Likely underserved — limited provider options
16	Frenchtown	N/A	Likely underserved — limited provider options

The Digital Divide in Montana

Rural and low-income communities in Montana often have only one or two broadband providers — and in some cases, none offering speeds that meet the FCC's 100/20 Mbps benchmark. This lack of competition leads to higher prices and slower speeds compared to urban areas.

Federal programs like BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment), the Affordable Connectivity Program successor, and USDA ReConnect grants are directing billions toward closing these gaps. You can check whether your area qualifies for subsidized broadband by entering your ZIP code in our availability checker.

How This Data Is Compiled

We track cities using U.S. Census population estimates and cross-reference them with FCC BDC filings. Smaller population centers are more likely to be underserved because providers prioritize areas with higher subscriber density. For our full methodology, see the methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which areas in Montana have the worst broadband coverage?: Smaller, more rural communities in Montana tend to have the fewest broadband options. The table above lists the least-populated tracked cities, which often correlate with limited provider competition and slower available speeds.
What is being done about broadband gaps in Montana?: The federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is allocating billions to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas nationwide. Montana is slated to receive funding to close coverage gaps in rural and low-income communities.
How can I report a broadband gap in Montana?: You can file a challenge on the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC) map at broadbandmap.fcc.gov if your address is incorrectly listed as having service. This data directly influences federal funding allocations.