Foothills Broadband brings the future of internet services to Burke

In just over a year since its founding, Foothills Broadband, a dynamic and locally owned internet service provider, has brought high-speed fiber internet to more than 12,000 Burke County homes previously dominated by copper-based services.

Founded by Jodi and Zachary Chiz, the company has gained more than 250 new subscribers within the first 45 days of 2025. The duo says the company’s commitment to affordability, quality, digital equity, and fiber technology will redefine the way locals connect to the internet.

The two founded the company as a product of COVID-19. Jodi’s parents, who live in the mountains, had no access to internet or cell phone service at their home, leaving them to drive 5 minutes out to get reception. When her parents contracted COVID, the couple’s concern grew, as there were no means of communication for wellness checks. To make matters worse, Fortune 100 companies quoted thousands of dollars to run a cable to their home.

The sense of helplessness mirrored a broader challenge faced by many in the same area. In Valdese, Zachary recalled the difficulties students faced as schools shifted to remote learning during the pandemic. Students without reliable internet access at home would visit the local McDonald’s parking lot to complete assignments, according to Zachary.

“Jodi looked at me and said, ‘You’re an engineer, you’re gonna solve this problem,”’ Zachary said.

Zachary, who graduated from NC A&T University with an engineering degree, grew up in a household centered around fiber. His dad spent over 40 years in the fiber business.

THE SOLUTION

The solution: Provide internet service to the rural areas.

Foothills Broadband began in April 2023, securing its first location in June 2023. In a short period of time, the company has grown to serve 12,000 homes in Valdese, Connelly Springs, Rutherford College, and Drexel. The company has two locations in Valdese.

After securing permits and hiring contractors to lay cables, the company was able to bring its first customers online in May 2024. The company’s competitors in the area include AT&T, Bright Speed, and Spectrum.

“We’re already at 500 total this year, and so we’ve done 250 installs in the first 45 days of the year,” Zachary said. This past week, 117 installs were on the books.

Foothills Broadband hopes to reach 1,000 subscribers by June 1 and 3,000 subscribers by the end of the year. In addition, the company, which currently has 15 employees, hopes to have 30 employees by the end of the year.

THE FORMULA

At the downtown Valdese office, Zachary held up a fiber cable with a tip the size of a human hair at the end.

“This is the future,” Zachary said.

In regards to home technology and communication, over the years, households have transitioned from telephones to cable television and now fiber optics. Fiber is the fastest and thinnest medium to transmit data to a home, according to Zachary.

The cable surrounding the fiber is a protective coating. Fibers communicate over passive optical networks.

“Fiber optics is the next best available technology for communications to the home,” Zachary said. “That one fiber can generate so much data that it’s far more superior than anything in this industry that this town or this county has ever seen, which is why it’s the next best available technology.”

The major difference between Foothills Broadband and its Fortune 100 competitors is the use of fiber versus copper. Zachary said he believes major companies haven’t switched to fiber because they are not fully invested in their facilities or compelled to put fiber in the area. He said competitors have the ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ mentality.

“Now we’re breaking that cycle and people are switching to the better product,” Zachary said. “This is the best technology available to exist for the next 25 or 50 years.”

A CUSTOMER WITH A NAME

Jodi and Zachary pride themselves on customers being treated as individuals, not just numbers. He describes the company as providing a “white glove service,” where technicians don’t leave the property until devices are fully connected and the customer is comfortable with how to use the technology.

To retain customers, Zachary said the company has no plans to increase prices. One of the company’s goals is to maintain fixed monthly rates. Unlike most competitors, the company does not charge an additional cost for routers.

Foothills Broadband also has options to keep pricing affordable. The company has developed a program that isn’t federally funded, called Foothill Cares. The program supports fixed and low-income families, offering a $35 discount on their monthly bill. To qualify, customers must complete an application on its website.

A LOOK AHEAD

Aside from expansion, Zachary and Jodi hope to entice younger generations back home. By providing modern internet technology, Foothills Broadband will increase opportunities for people to work from home and bring businesses back to Burke County.

“The median age in this area continues to go up. So, in the next 25 years, we’d better figure it out,” Zachary said.

Zachary said that more announcements are on the horizon. For now, however, the company will hold true to its motto: Fiber for the people, by the people, family first.