Gearheart Communications

What Gearheart Communications does

Gearheart Communications Company, Inc. is a privately held regional telecommunications provider headquartered in Harold, Kentucky, serving residential and small business customers across Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. The company operates a portfolio of subscription-based connectivity and entertainment services, including broadband internet delivered over DSL, cable, and fiber infrastructure (with speeds up to 2 Gbps), VoIP-based home phone service, Gearheart TV (GTV) — a TiVo-powered streaming platform with cloud DVR and 350+ channels — Gearheart Mobile (an MVNO offering through Appalachian Wireless), and Gearheart Security, a 24/7 smart home monitoring service. The company also operates WPRG TV-5, a local broadcast station, and GMedia, a media production division, under a broader family of affiliated brands that includes Inter Mountain Cable, Coalfields Telephone Company, and East Kentucky Internet.

Gearheart's go-to-market is sales-led and regional, combining direct online ordering through gearheart.com, phone-based sales (800-635-7052), and in-person service at its Harold, Kentucky headquarters. Revenue is generated through recurring monthly subscriptions across all product lines, supplemented by equipment leasing (cable modems at $8/month, DCT/DSK units at $55.95/month minimum), bundle discounts, and Lifeline subsidy programs. Pricing for residential internet starts at $29.95/month for 200 Mbps with AutoPay, mobile plans start at $20/month, and GTV Lite is offered at $25/month. Managed WiFi-7, delivered through a partnership with Plume, is positioned as a premium add-on with app-based network management. Fiber expansion is underway in five Eastern Kentucky markets — Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Cedar Creek, Mare Creek, and Betsy Layne — providing symmetric gigabit and 2 Gbps service.

The company operates a horizontally segmented customer base of residential families, budget-conscious consumers seeking alternatives to national carriers, and local small businesses. Its value proposition centers on local service differentiation, no long-term contracts, 99.9% claimed network uptime, and bundled multi-product convenience. Gearheart is led by CFO James O Campbell, CPA, and the founder is Paul Roberts Gearheart. The business is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or revenue figures, supported by an integrated family of related entities sharing common ownership and the Harold, Kentucky headquarters.

Name

Gearheart Communications

Legal name

Gearheart Communications Company, Inc.

Website

https://gearheart.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Gearheart Communications is a privately held regional telecommunications provider serving residential and small business customers in Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia with broadband internet, TV streaming, mobile, home phone, and security services over owned fiber, cable, and DSL infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Telecommunications Resellers (517121)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale Fixed Access & Bitstream Providers (HDAIABAF)

Keywords

• Rural broadband internet
• Fiber internet service
• Residential telecommunications
• Streaming television service
• Home security monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Harold

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Internet Service Subscriptions: Monthly recurring subscriptions for broadband internet service at various speed tiers (100 Mbps to 2 Gbps). Includes cable modem and fiber options. AutoPay discount of $5/month available.
2. Gearheart TV / GTV: Streaming TV service with cloud DVR, personal profiles, and 350+ channels. TiVo-based platform with mobile app. Minimum programming requirement of $55.95/month for DCT/DSK unit lease.
3. Gearheart Mobile: Mobile phone service plans starting at $20/month with nationwide coverage. Bundled savings when combined with broadband service.
4. Home Phone / Voice: Landline phone service with unlimited long distance and number portability. VoIP-based service.
5. Home Security: Smart home security and 24/7 monitoring services through Gearheart Security brand.
6. Equipment Leasing: Lease fees for cable modems ($8/month, valued at $150) and DCT/DSK units ($55.95/month minimum, valued at $65). Customers liable for damage or non-return.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gearheart Communications is a regional telecommunications provider that delivers residential and small-business broadband internet (DSL, cable modem, and fiber up to 2 Gbps), VoIP home phone, streaming TV via the GTV platform (powered by TiVo with cloud DVR and 350+ channels), Gearheart Mobile wireless service, Managed WiFi-7 (powered by Plume), and 24/7-monitored Gearheart Security. Services are delivered over the company's own wireline and fixed-wireless plant across Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Product overview

Gearheart Communications is a regional telecom provider offering a bundled suite of connectivity and entertainment services. The core offering includes Broadband Internet (cable and fiber, up to 2 gig speeds), Managed WIFI-7 (managed via the Plume Home app), Voice home phone service, and Gearheart TV (GTV) streaming powered by TiVo. The GTV platform includes GTV Lite ($25/month, 350+ channels) and Watch TV Everywhere. Mobile services are available through Gearheart Mobile (starting at $20/month). Add-on services include Gearheart Security (24/7 monitoring), Lifeline assistance, and WPRG TV-5 local station. Services are available in Eastern Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia with local customer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GTV: Streaming TV platform with cloud DVR, personal profiles, and local channel access
• GTV Lite
• Gearheart Mobile
• Gearheart Security
• WPRG TV-5
• GMedia

Products and services

• Broadband Internet

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 2 Gbps download speeds available
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Plume (Spreading Glass Networks)coreTechnology or Integration · 19 June 2026Plume provides the Home app for managed WiFi network management. Gearheart offers Plume Home as part of their Managed WiFi-7 solution, providing customers with screen time controls, bandwidth prioritization, network insights, and device management capabilities through a mobile app.
• TiVo (Xperi)coreTechnology or IntegrationTiVo provides the streaming platform for Gearheart TV (GTV) service. The TiVo app (TMIS version 2.43) powers GTV streaming with multi-select filters, cloud DVR, personal profiles, and mobile access. A new Unity platform is planned for late 2026.
• Gearheart Mobile (Appalachian Wireless)coreTechnology or IntegrationGearheart Mobile is offered in partnership with Appalachian Wireless, providing mobile services with 50% discount on services for Gearheart Communications customers. Mobile plans start at $20/month with nationwide coverage and device options.
• Disney PlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPromotional partnership featuring Disney Plus content on Gearheart TV platform. Special offer pages linking to Disney Plus subscription promotions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WOW! WideOpenWest: Regional cable broadband operator offering Internet, TV, and voice to Tier-2/3 markets in the Midwest and Southeast. Comparable on regional cable/broadband+voice bundled GTM and Tier-3 customer base.
• Brightspeed: PE-backed rural wireline carrier spun out of Lumen, actively upgrading copper to fiber across 20 states including Appalachian-adjacent markets. Comparable as a fiber-overbuild-focused rural telecom of similar scale and customer mix.
• Frontier Communications: Larger rural wireline operator with significant fiber overbuild program in 25+ states. Comparable as a regional broadband+voice provider competing in similar rural Eastern markets and pursuing symmetrical gig upgrades.
• Mediacom Communications: Largest U.S. cable operator focused on smaller markets and rural communities. Comparable on rural cable broadband, video, and voice bundle targeting residential families in low-density markets.
• Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel): Regional rural wireline/cable broadband operator serving Virginia and West Virginia with bundled Internet, TV, voice, and mobile services (via Sprint/T-Mobile MVNO). Most directly comparable to Gearheart on geographic footprint, rural density, and bundled GTM.
• Consolidated Communications: Multi-state rural and small-market wireline broadband, TV, and voice operator now under Searchlight/BC Partners ownership. Comparable on bundled residential service profile and rural ILEC/cable footprint.
• Atlantic Broadband: Regional cable broadband operator (now part of Breezeline/Liberty Latin America) serving smaller markets across the Eastern U.S. Comparable on regional cable broadband+voice+video portfolio and Tier-3 market positioning.
• TDS Telecom: Multi-state regional wireline operator providing broadband, video, and voice to rural and small-town communities across the U.S. Comparable on rural/suburban DSL/fiber mix, family-company culture, and local service positioning.
• Windstream: Rural and small-city wireline operator offering fiber, DSL, and bundled services across 18 states. Comparable footprint and customer mix to Gearheart's rural Eastern Kentucky base.

Emerging players

• Starlink (SpaceX): LEO satellite broadband service directly competing for Gearheart's rural Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia customers. Relevant as a structural competitive threat to the legacy DSL/cable footprint rather than a direct product equivalent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/imcbundle
• YouTubeyoutube.com/gearheartbroadband
• Facebookfacebook.com/gearheartservices
• Instagraminstagram.com/gearheartcomm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gearheart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Gearheart Communications