Blackfoot Communications
Blackfoot Communications is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative founded in 1954 that delivers voice, broadband, fiber connectivity, and managed network/security services to residential members in Western Montana and Eastern Idaho, plus business and wholesale carrier customers across the Pacific Northwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1954
- HeadquartersMissoula, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Blackfoot Communications does
Blackfoot Communications, legally organized as Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc., is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative founded in 1954 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana. The company delivers voice, broadband, and fiber-based connectivity services to residential members in Western Montana and Eastern Idaho, alongside business and wholesale/carrier services spanning the Pacific Northwest. Core technology includes a multi-state fiber optic network, virtual BNG/CGNAT infrastructure (netElastic), the Calix Operations Cloud platform, Cato Networks SASE stack with a local Private PoP in Missoula, and Fortinet security solutions, supporting a portfolio that includes residential internet and voice, Managed Home WiFi with Protect/Safe WiFi add-ons, Managed Firewall, Managed SD-WAN, Managed SASE, and wholesale carrier fiber backbone services up to 400 Gbps.
The business model is structured around a member-owned cooperative that generates recurring subscription revenue across four customer segments: residential members, small-to-mid-size businesses, enterprise accounts, and carrier/wholesale customers. Revenue streams are predominantly subscription-based managed services and recurring monthly fees, supplemented by equipment leasing (e.g., $250 battery backup units, VoIP device lease programs) and hardware assurance plans. Pricing is generally quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales, self-service web properties for residential and SMB (blackfoot.com, blackfootbusiness.com, blackfootsmallbusiness.com), and a dedicated wholesale carrier sales channel. The company employs 150+ people and operates three physical offices across Montana and Idaho.
Blackfoot is currently in an aggressive capital deployment phase, investing $76M+ in rural Montana fiber broadband (combining $60M+ in ConnectMT state grants with $16M of self-funded capital) and $11.75M in NTIA Middle Mile fiber construction jointly with Southern Montana Telephone. Strategic priorities include expanding managed services portfolio (SASE, SD-WAN, security), scaling wholesale carrier business via a new 400 Gbps low-latency network path, and pursuing BEAD funding after relinquishing 688 RDOF locations. The company also operates the C2M Beta open innovation lab and is led by CEO Jason Williams (since December 2016) with a recent CRO hire (Chad Gardner, October 2024) signaling commercial growth focus.
Blackfoot Communications firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blackfoot Communications
- Legal name
- Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
- Website
- https://blackfootcommunications.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1954
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Blackfoot Communications is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative founded in 1954 that delivers voice, broadband, fiber connectivity, and managed network/security services to residential members in Western Montana and Eastern Idaho, plus business and wholesale carrier customers across the Pacific Northwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blackfoot Communications industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Telecommunications Services
- NAICS
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) & Secure SD-WAN (HDAIAFAH), Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases) (HDAIALAI), Network Security Managed Services (Firewall/IDS/IPS/SASE) (BPAEADAG)
Keywords
Where Blackfoot Communications is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Missoula
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Blackfoot Communications business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Managed Services (Business & Carrier): Blackfoot provides advanced voice, data, cloud, managed and security solutions to businesses of all sizes throughout the Pacific Northwest, including managed WiFi, managed firewall, managed SD-WAN, managed SASE, managed router, and managed connectivity services. Revenue is generated through recurring subscription fees, typically bundled as managed service packages.
- Residential Broadband and Voice Services: Residential services including voice, broadband, and fiber-based connectivity delivered to homes in Western Montana and Eastern Idaho. Revenue from monthly service subscriptions.
- Wholesale Carrier Services: Through Blackfoot Carrier Services, the company offers wholesale managed services to peer telecoms and delivers carrier services providing the fiber backbone for cellular providers. Revenue from wholesale contracts with other carriers and telecom providers.
- Network Infrastructure Services: Virtual networking services including vBNG and CGNAT for addressing IPv4 exhaustion, enabling service expansion into new rural markets including the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Revenue from new market service contracts.
- Equipment and Device Leasing: Blackfoot offers VoIP device lease programs including accidental protection plans, and optional battery backup units for fiber phone service ($250, split over 3 billing cycles).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed Home WiFi with Protect WiFi and Safe WiFi add-ons |
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed Firewall (two tiers) with 24/7 local support, next-gen equipment, installation, annual audit, and backup |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Battery Backup for fiber phone service |
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed SD-WAN, Managed SASE, Managed Router, Managed Monitoring, Managed Connectivity |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Blackfoot Communications product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blackfoot Communications is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative delivering voice, broadband, fiber-based internet connectivity, and managed network/security services to residential customers in Western Montana and Eastern Idaho and to businesses of all sizes throughout the Pacific Northwest. The company also provides wholesale carrier services, supplying fiber backbone connectivity and low-latency transport to peer telecoms and cellular providers. A portfolio of managed service add-ons including Managed WiFi, Managed Firewall, Managed SD-WAN, and Managed SASE is delivered on top of the underlying fiber network.
Product overview
Blackfoot Communications operates as a telecommunications cooperative providing voice, broadband, and network services through a unified platform architecture spanning residential, business, and carrier segments. The core offering includes residential and business voice and internet services (including fiber connectivity), complemented by a portfolio of managed services add-ons including Managed Home WiFi (with Protect WiFi and Safe WiFi), Managed Firewall, Managed SASE (powered by Cato Networks), Managed SD-WAN, Managed Router, Business WiFi, and Robocall Blocking. Carrier Services provides wholesale fiber backbone connectivity. The company also operates C2M Beta as an open innovation lab supporting regional entrepreneurs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- C2M Beta: An open innovation laboratory launched in 2018 that provides entrepreneurs access to Blackfoot's advanced network infrastructure and supports startup development in the Rocky Mountain region.
Quantifiable outcome
- 23% reduction in unnecessary equipment replacements
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Blackfoot Communications
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Blackfoot Communications technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature6 records
Blackfoot Communications partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- netElasticcoreBlackfoot adopted netElastic's virtual router software platform featuring virtual BNG and CGNAT technology to modernize aging network infrastructure and address IPv4 address exhaustion. The deployment enables Blackfoot to leverage existing server hardware while expanding service capabilities into new rural markets including the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Cost savings result from eliminated proprietary hardware purchases.
- Cato NetworkscoreBlackfoot deployed a Cato Private Point of Presence (PoP) in Missoula to support Blackfoot Managed SASE, integrating SD-WAN, zero trust network access (ZTNA), and advanced network security. The Private PoP inspects and protects customer traffic locally, reducing latency and improving performance. This represents a major expansion of edge infrastructure in Montana.
- University of MontanacoreBlackfoot became the first-ever corporate community partner for the PISCES (Public Infrastructure Security Cyber Education System) program in Montana. The program provides free cybersecurity analysis and training to schools, public utilities, and governments in rural communities. Blackfoot serves as community liaison connecting local organizations with PISCES resources.
- CalixcoreBlackfoot partnered with Calix — the leading global provider of intelligent WiFi customer devices — to deliver Managed Home WiFi services. Calix Operations Cloud integration provides operational efficiency for Blackfoot. Blackfoot won the 2024 Customer Service and Support Innovations Award from Calix.
- FortinetsupportingFortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions founded over 20 years ago, visited Blackfoot HQ to strengthen the partnership. The visit included events aimed at bolstering the partnership and enhancing service offerings.
- FNT SoftwarecoreBlackfoot selected FNT Software's platform to enhance network management for its fiber project. FNT Software is a leading provider of software solutions for integrated management of IT, data center, and telecommunication infrastructures worldwide.
- C2M BetacoreC2M Beta is Blackfoot's open innovation laboratory founded in 2018, embodying the vision of 'Connect to More.' Blackfoot partners with C2M Beta to host startup showcase events and connect with the entrepreneurial ecosystem. C2M Beta is the first corporate-backed open innovation lab in Montana and the region.
- The Insight StudiosupportingThe Insight Studio, a Missoula-based marketing agency and Certified HubSpot Partner, plays a pivotal role in supporting the success of the C2M Beta entrepreneurial program through marketing support and event curation.
- ArvigsupportingArvig joined Blackfoot's coalition network, adding strategic coverage to the eastern side of Blackfoot's regional footprint. Arvig's network helps fill a key component for the demand for unique and diverse transport routes to the Midwest.
- Advanced Communications Technology (ACT)supportingBlackfoot and ACT announced a strategic partnership to provide greater connectivity options to businesses and consumers in rural America.
- ProLabssupportingProLabs provides Blackfoot with a reliable source of quality OEM-compatible fiber optic transceivers that are delivered quickly, allowing Blackfoot to provide state-of-the-art communications options to customers.
- Diversified SolutionscoreEngineering and construction firm hired by Blackfoot to work alongside the company in determining the best routes to serve homes and businesses during fiber network construction in rural communities.
- Mid-State ConsultantscoreEngineering and construction firm hired by Blackfoot to work alongside the company in determining the best routes to serve homes and businesses during fiber network construction in rural communities.
- Southern Montana TelephonesupportingBlackfoot and Southern Montana Telephone were jointly awarded $11.75 million from the NTIA Middle Mile Grant Program to support new fiber construction in remote areas of Western Montana, adding 137 miles of new middle mile fiber.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Blackfoot Communications competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blackfoot Communications social profiles
Digital presenceBlackfoot Communications financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blackfoot Communications leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Blackfoot Communications funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blackfoot Communications M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blackfoot Communications
What does Blackfoot Communications do?
Blackfoot Communications is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative delivering voice, broadband, fiber-based internet connectivity, and managed network/security services to residential customers in Western Montana and Eastern Idaho and to businesses of all sizes throughout the Pacific Northwest. The company also provides wholesale carrier services, supplying fiber backbone connectivity and low-latency transport to peer telecoms and cellular providers. A portfolio of managed service add-ons including Managed WiFi, Managed Firewall, Managed SD-WAN, and Managed SASE is delivered on top of the underlying fiber network.
Is Blackfoot Communications a public or private company?
Blackfoot Communications is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Blackfoot Communications founded?
Blackfoot Communications was founded in 1954. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Blackfoot Communications based?
Blackfoot Communications is headquartered in Missoula, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blackfoot Communications make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Managed Services (Business & Carrier) is the primary driver. The others are residential Broadband and Voice Services, wholesale Carrier Services, network Infrastructure Services and equipment and Device Leasing.
Does Blackfoot Communications have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blackfoot Communications.
What industry is Blackfoot Communications in?
Blackfoot Communications's product category is Telecommunications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIADAE, Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers), with a secondary code of HDAIAFAH, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) & Secure SD-WAN. Its NAICS code is 517111 and its SIC code is 4813.