Critics Say Telecom Task Force Favored Industry; Helena hearing slated

Blue Ribbon governors' telecommunications task force work and a related bill will be the subject of a Helena hearing referenced during a Missoula radio program, where commentators said the task force was heavily shaped by the telecommunications industry and omitted public access concerns.

The program's commentator said the task force report, titled "Connecting Montana to the World," will be heard in Helena this week and that, according to a public service commissioner quoted on the show, industry gave the task force about $75,000. "The telecommunications industry, quote, contributed, quote, $75,000," the commentator said. The commentator added they had tried to get total cost figures from the Department of Administration but had not yet received them.

Why it matters: the report and any bill informed by the task force could shape statewide cable and telecommunications policy. On the broadcast, speakers said the report contains no discussion of public access cable communications and that Missoula Community Access Television was not consulted.

The commentator described difficulty attending earlier task force meetings in Helena, saying one meeting was held inside US West Telephone Company headquarters and required talking past security to reach the public session. "I went to look for the meeting place in Helena. And where was the meeting? It was, like, in inside the US West Telephone Company headquarters," the commentator said, adding they felt shut out from the process.

Program guests reported that one public service commission member told them industry had a role in drafting the bill to be heard. The commentator said they expected the bill to be heard "Friday, the 30 first on this," and that the task force booklet lacked any reference to public access cable.

Formal actions and next steps: the broadcast referenced a Helena hearing on the task force's bill/report; no formal vote or final outcome was reported on air. The Department of Administration's total spending on the task force was described as not yet provided by officials contacted by the commentator.

Staff and advocates in Missoula who work in public access television were described on the program as effectively left out of the task force's outreach. The commentator said, "nobody on this task force, as far as I know, talked to, anybody from Missoula, from Missoula Community Access Television." The commentator urged public interest attention to the Helena hearing.

Less critical details: the program also included a broader conversation about the legislature's priorities and other statewide topics. The broadcast did not include formal legislative text or the complete bill; listeners were encouraged to follow the Helena hearing for official records and outcomes.