Rural Telecommunications of America

What Rural Telecommunications of America does

Rural Telecommunications of America, Inc. (RTA) is a privately held broadband service provider founded in 2018 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, that delivers gigabit-speed internet to underserved rural communities across the United States. The company operates a "gigFAST NETWORK" combining Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) infrastructure — fiber from data centers through OLTs to ONTs at subscriber homes — with fixed wireless broadband delivered via licensed and unlicensed frequencies, towers, access points, and backhaul radios. Service is sold under the flagship brand gigFAST INTERNET® in three speed tiers: MINIgig (100 Mbps), SUPERgig (300 Mbps), and GALACTICgig (1 Gbps), with complementary gigFAST VOICE (VoIP resale) and gigFAST TV offerings, plus an IoT-powered local weather station product.

RTA generates revenue primarily through recurring monthly subscriptions from residential and business customers, with pricing starting at $48/month and promotional rates such as $38/month for the first six months on SUPERgig. The company emphasizes customer-friendly terms — no contracts, no data caps, no throttling, and a 12-month price guarantee — along with 5% discounts for military, teachers, seniors (62+), and first responders. Distribution is executed via direct phone sales, local physical offices (Houston and Crystal Beach, TX), and a self-serve website with zip-code coverage checks. As of 2024, RTA reported serving 250,000+ rural internet customers across more than 15,000 route miles of fiber, with leadership from Co-Founders Jim Edwards and Donald Workman (Chairman/COO) and CEO Randall Schwartz.

Name

Rural Telecommunications of America

Legal name

Rural Telecommunications of America, Inc.

Website

https://rtatel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Rural Telecommunications of America is a Houston-based broadband ISP that delivers gigabit fiber-to-the-home and fixed wireless internet to underserved rural communities in the U.S., serving 250,000+ customers across 15,000+ route miles of fiber.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadband Internet Services

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)

Keywords

• Rural broadband internet
• Fiber to the home
• Fixed wireless services
• Internet service provider
• VoIP telephone services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Residential Internet Service: Monthly subscription fees for residential gigFAST INTERNET services offering various speed tiers from MINIgig (100 Mbps) to GALACTICgig (1000 Mbps). No data limits, no contracts required.
2. Business Internet Service: Business internet packages with features including 24x7 phone support, redundant internet connection, and greater speed options for business operations.
3. VoIP Services: RTA is a VoIP service reseller providing voice services over the gigFAST INTERNET connection.
4. TV Services: gigFAST TV service bundled with internet offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rural Telecommunications of America (RTA) is a broadband service provider that delivers affordable, high-speed gigFAST INTERNET to underserved rural American communities using Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and fixed wireless technologies. Its service portfolio includes symmetrical-speed residential internet tiers (MINIgig, SUPERgig, GALACTICgig), commercial-grade business internet with 24x7 support and redundant connections, plus bundled VoIP voice and TV services.

Product overview

Rural Telecommunications of America (RTA) operates as a broadband service provider delivering a unified internet service platform called gigFAST INTERNET®, which is available in three speed tiers: MINIgig (up to 100 Mbps), SUPERgig (up to 300 Mbps), and GALACTICgig (up to 1 Gbps). Services are delivered via Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) and fixed wireless broadband technologies. RTA's portfolio includes complementary voice (gigFAST VOICE) and television (gigFAST TV®) services, as well as a Local Weather Stations IoT feature. The company offers both residential and business service tiers, with business plans featuring enhanced support and redundancy options. RTA's wholesale division also expands services to additional markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• gigFAST INTERNET®: The company's flagship high-speed fiber internet service brand offering gigabit-speed internet to rural communities.

Products and services

• gigFAST INTERNET RTA's flagship residential and business broadband service providing symmetrical gigabit-speed internet to rural communities via Fiber-to-the-Home and fixed wireless technologies. Available in three speed tiers (MINIgig, SUPERgig, GALACTICgig) with no contracts, no data limits, and a 12-month price guarantee.
• MINIgig Entry-level gigFAST INTERNET plan offering symmetrical speeds up to 100 Mbps, designed for smaller households with basic internet needs such as email, browsing, and limited streaming. Starting from $48 per month.
• SUPERgig Mid-tier gigFAST INTERNET plan offering symmetrical speeds up to 300 Mbps; RTA's most popular plan for families streaming Netflix, browsing Facebook, and video conferencing. Available with promotional pricing of $38/mo for the first six months for new customers.
• GALACTICgig Premium gigFAST INTERNET plan offering symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps with no limits on seamless streaming; designed for households with teens, gamers, and multiple connected devices.
• Business Internet Services Commercial-grade broadband internet service with 24x7 phone support, redundant internet connection options, and higher speed tiers designed for business operations in rural areas.
• gigFAST VOICE VoIP voice service offered by RTA, enabling residential and business customers to make telephone calls over the gigFAST INTERNET connection.
• gigFAST TV Television service bundled with RTA's internet offering, providing local channels and programming content to residential subscribers.
• Local Weather Stations IoT-based local weather monitoring service providing real-time weather data for Crystal Beach, Houston, and League City areas, powered by gigFAST IoT connectivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 278% three-year revenue growth (2020-2023)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DZS (DigiCore)coreTechnology or Integration · 26 February 2025DZS, a developer of Network Edge and Connectivity systems and Cloud Edge software solutions enabling broadband everywhere, was selected by RTA to bring world-class broadband services to Texas' Bastrop County. This Texas BOOT II funded fiber-to-the-home project aims to bring symmetrical gigFAST INTERNET to over 10,000 rural locations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Direct peers

• Resound Networks: Resound Networks is a Texas-based rural broadband provider offering fixed wireless and fiber services to underserved communities. Comparable scale, Texas concentration, and rural mission closely mirror RTA's profile.
• NextLink Internet: NextLink Internet is a rural-focused WISP and fiber-to-the-home provider operating across multiple U.S. states with fixed wireless and FTTH. Closely comparable to RTA in technology stack (fixed wireless + fiber), rural focus, and BEAD-funded expansion strategy.
• Rise Broadband: Rise Broadband is one of the largest fixed wireless (WISP) internet providers in the U.S., serving small and rural communities with comparable technology mix and customer base to RTA. Directly comparable business model focused on underserved geographies.
• Vexus Fiber: Vexus Fiber is a regional fiber-to-the-home ISP operating primarily in Texas and the Southwest with gigabit symmetrical speeds for residential and business customers. Directly overlaps RTA's Texas footprint and fiber-first go-to-market.
• Starry Group Holdings: Starry is a fixed wireless broadband ISP targeting urban and underserved markets with gigabit speeds and no-contract, no-data-cap pricing. Comparable technology approach and consumer-friendly policy positioning to RTA, though operating in denser geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Frontier Communications: Frontier Communications is a major U.S. fiber and rural broadband provider aggressively expanding its fiber footprint using BEAD funding into markets that overlap with RTA's service areas. Larger incumbent competing in the same rural broadband opportunity.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile Home Internet leverages 5G fixed wireless to deliver broadband to underserved and rural households at low price points. Competes for the same rural customer RTA targets, with vastly greater spectrum, marketing, and balance sheet.
• Consolidated Communications: Consolidated Communications (now private under Searchlight Capital) is a large incumbent rural and mid-market fiber and broadband provider across 20+ states. Competes with RTA in rural geographies but at much larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• Windstream (Kinetic): Windstream's Kinetic division delivers fiber and broadband services to rural and small-town America across 18 states. Directly overlaps RTA's rural broadband mission with significantly greater capital, scale, and incumbent infrastructure.

Emerging players

• SpaceX Starlink: SpaceX's Starlink is an LEO satellite broadband service that delivers high-speed internet to rural and remote U.S. households without terrestrial infrastructure. Represents the most disruptive alternative to RTA's fixed wireless and fiber offering in rural America.

Market position

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rta4all
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfx1r0DOiiXgUmSzG5zhMpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/rta4all
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rta4all
• Instagraminstagram.com/rta4usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rural Telecommunications of America