Legals for November, 2 2021

No. 28147 INVITATION FOR BIDS Bids on the following projects will be received by the Montana Department of Transportation, Construction Contracting Bureau, until 9:00 a.m. on November 18, 2021. All bids will then be reviewed for correctness and then publicly read in the Department's assigned room. 103 SF 119 - SLOPE FLATTEN S-206, S-206 - US 2 TO MT 35 HSIP 206-1(8)0, FLA-STPS 206-1(12)0 HSIP 206-1(8) - Grade, gravel, plant mix surfacing, seal and cover, drainage, pavement markings, signing, and guardrail on the SF 119 - Slope Flatten S-206 project located in Flathead County. The project begins at RP 0.2 and extends northerly approximately 9.3 miles along Montana Secondary Highway 206 to RP 9.6. FLA-STPS 206-1(12)0 - A milled connection, plant mix surfacing overlay, fog seal over seal and cover, sidewalks, curb and gutter, signing and pavement markings on Secondary Route 206 for the S-206 - US 2 to MT 35 project in Flathead County. This project begins on S-206 at RP 0.0 (intersection with MT 35) and extends north 9.7 miles to RP 9.7 (intersection with US 2). Bid proposals, plans, cross-sections, dirt runs & erosion control plans, if available, and full instructions to bidders may be obtained from the Construction Contracting Bureau's website: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/business/contracting under the "Bid Package" link. Additional bid letting information is also available on this website. Any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement is subject to all appropriate state and federal civil rights laws. The prime and subcontractors are required to pay the wage rates set out in the bid proposal. MDT will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the award, performance or administration of any MDT contract or in the administration of its DBE program (49 CFR Part 26). MDT attempts to provide reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person participating in any service, program or activity of the department. Alternate accessible formats of this document will be provided upon request. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in MDT bid lettings, call the Civil Rights Bureau at 444-6331 or TTY 406-444-7696 [TTY 1-800-335-7592 (toll free)]. MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Loran Frazier, Chairperson Montana Transportation Commission Malcolm "Mack" Long Director of Transportation October 26, November 2, 2021 MNAXLP __________________________

No. 28154 Service Date: October 28th, 2021 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE REGULATION BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MONTANA IN THE MATTER OF Modernizing Telecommunications Regulation REGULATORY DIVISION DOCKET NO. 2021.10.125 NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT BACKGROUND The Montana Telecommunications Act ("Act"), codified in Mont. Code Ann. §§ 69-3-801 through 69-3-870, was enacted in 1985. According to the Act, it is the policy of the state of Montana to: maintain universal availability of basic telecommunications service at affordable rates. To the extent that it is consistent with maintaining universal service, it is further the policy of this state to encourage competition in the telecommunications industry, thereby allowing access by the public to resulting rapid advances in telecommunications technology. It is the purpose of this part to provide a regulatory framework that will allow an orderly transition from a regulated telecommunications industry to a competitive market environment, and it is further the purpose of this part to clarify that the commission has authority to implement alternative forms of regulation for providers of regulated telecommunications services. Mont. Code Ann. § 69-3-802. The Montana Public Service Commission ("Commission") has adopted rules to implement the Act in Mont. Admin. Rs. 38.5.2701 through 38.5.4200. In 1985, the telecommunications industry was dominated by monopoly providers serving captive customers using a network primarily comprised of paired copper wires. Since that time, technological advancements have made it possible to provide telecommunications services through a variety of mediums, including commercial mobile radio service, fixed wireless, voice over internet protocol ("VoIP"), and satellite. As of July 2019, approximately 600 telecommunications carriers were registered to provide service in Montana. Arguably, markets for telecommunications services are effectively competitive in many areas of the country. The Commission has previously taken steps that reduced its regulation of telecommunications services. For example, in 2000, the Commission waived requirements for competitive local exchange carriers to file tariffs or price lists. In 2014, Commission de-tariffed the two legacy price-cap carriers operating in the state. Many providers of telecommunications services are statutorily exempt from regulation, including local exchange services provided by cooperatives and wireless services. The Commission believes that ongoing technology and market changes in the telecommunications industry warrant a review of administrative rules and statutes related to the regulation of telecommunications services. As an initial step, the Commission seeks comment from interested stakeholders and the public by January 14, 2022. While all comments are welcome, the Commission specifically requests comment on two primary issues: 1) what degree of regulatory oversight the Commission should exercise given the current and expected structure of the telecommunications industry in Montana; and 2) what specific modifications should be made to applicable rules and statutes. Related to those two primary issues, the Commission requests comment on the following questions: What type of carrier should be considered a "telecommunications provider" that is subject to the rules in question? Which carriers should be considered "regulated" by the Commission for purposes of collecting Commission/MCC fees? What metrics should be applied to define "basic" telecommunications service in the context of these rules? What metrics should be applied to ensure a carrier is providing adequate and reliable access to the 911 emergency phone system? What would the pros and cons be if Montana were to relinquish its authority to the FCC to designate ETCs for service in Montana as set forth in Mont. Code Ann § 69-3-840? If Montana should continue to designate ETCs in Montana, what information-beyond what is currently required-should be provided to the Commission to recertify carriers on an annual basis? Should any carrier be required to submit tariffs for retail service to the Commission, and if so, what carriers/tariffs should be required to file? What rules and/or statutes can be implemented to ensure carriers are prolonging the exhaust date of the 406 area code? What service quality rules should be contained in Admin. R. Mont. 38.5.3371? To what extent should the Commission regulate wholesale service to ensure a competitive environment can exist in the telecommunications industry? PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Commission will accept written comments on this matter through January 14, 2022. Written comments may be mailed to the Commission at 1701 Prospect Ave., P.O. Box 202601, Helena, MT 59620; filed electronically through the Commission's website at http://psc.mt.gov (select "Documents & Proceedings" tab; select "Comment on a Proceeding"; select "Continue as Guest"; complete form; select "Submit"); or emailed to the Commission at pschelp@mt.gov. The Commission's jurisdiction over this matter is provided in Title 69 and Title 2, Chapter 4 of the Montana Code Annotated; Title 38, Chapters 2 and 5 of the Montana Administrative Rules, and any prior orders of the Commission relevant to the issues presented. DONE AND DATED this 28th day of October, 2021. BY THE MONTANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION JAMES BROWN, Chairman BRAD JOHNSON, Vice Chairman TONY O'DONNELL, Commissioner RANDALL PINOCCI, Commissioner JENNIFER FIELDER, Commissioner November 2, 2021 MNAXLP __________________________