Mont. Senate Passes Infrastructure Bills

Three telecom infrastructure bills passed the Montana Senate and moved to the House Tuesday. Senators voted 46-4 for SB-521 allowing applicants seeking to use the right-of-way to seek exceptions to paying fair market value. Applicants could propose “an alternative … by offering a comparable in-kind contribution,” said the amended bill. The bill would define fair market value as $100 a mile for each year. Senators voted 35-15 for SB-529, which would add rural wireless infrastructure to a list of broadband services eligible for a five-year tax abatement. Also, it would remove a clause saying fiber or coaxial cable using federal funds can’t get the abatement. Senators voted 50-0 for SB-531, which would update state rules and definitions for NTIA’s broadband equity, access and deployment program.