The City of Great Falls, Montana, is currently facing an outage that has disrupted its primary internet connection and telephone system. According to city officials, the disruption stems from a fiber cut outside the state, which is affecting businesses and organizations not only in Montana but also in Wyoming and Colorado.
While essential services continue to operate, the city has shifted to its backup internet connection. This has led to slower access for internet-related services, including the online utility billing portal. Residents are advised to use an online contact form if they need to reach a city employee during this period when phone lines are affected. For non-emergency calls to the 911 Dispatch Center, residents should use 406-454-6979; emergency 911 calls remain unaffected.
“City staff are actively tracking the situation and are working with the service provider to restore services as quickly as possible. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” stated city representatives. “The City appreciates the public’s patience and understanding while this issue is being resolved.”
Great Falls operates under a commission-manager form of government, with a City Commission appointing a City Manager who oversees daily operations (https://greatfallsmt.net/citycommission/form-government). The municipal government serves residents by providing essential services and promoting transparent governance (https://greatfallsmt.net/citycommission/city-commission-visiongoals).
The city is located along the Missouri River in Montana, where a series of waterfalls mark its landscape—a feature central to its founding in 1884 by Paris Gibson (https://greatfallsmt.net/community/history). Over time, Great Falls has developed significant infrastructure and community initiatives reflecting its historical roots.
No estimate was given for full restoration of services at this time.