methownet.com

What methownet.com does

Methownet, LLC is a locally owned and operated internet service provider headquartered in Winthrop, Washington, serving the Methow Valley community since 1995 under the operating brand Methow Fiber. The company delivers fiber-optic broadband internet and wireless broadband to residential and commercial customers within the OCEC (Okanogan County Electric Cooperative) membership territory, including areas from Mazama to Carlton. Its fiber network uses light transmission over fiber-optic cables connected to customer-premises Network Interface Devices (NIDs), while wireless service uses radio signals requiring line-of-sight to access points. Methownet also offers VoIP phone service with E911 support, hardware sales, and hourly-billed installation and technical support services.

The business operates on a subscription-based revenue model with monthly recurring fees: residential fiber plans range from $79-$149/month (100/100 Mbps to 1/1 Gbps) and wireless plans from $49-$109/month (5/2 Mbps to 25/5 Mbps); commercial fiber plans range from $89-$169/month with some requiring 3-year contracts; VoIP is $29/month flat rate including long distance and is bundled free with fiber accounts. The company has approximately 9 team members and serves as the implementation partner for grant-funded broadband expansion funded by ARPA (federal, completion late 2026), PWB (Washington state, completion 2028), and pending BEAD (federal) programs. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company's website (fiber map portal) and phone-based sales at the Winthrop office, with billing managed through the OCEC Smarthub platform and back-office operations supported by NISC cooperative software.

Methownet's strategic positioning centers on being the sole rural broadband provider in its service territory, leveraging public infrastructure grants to fund fiber build-out that would otherwise be uneconomic in a low-density market. The company is closely affiliated with OCEC, sharing employee infrastructure (timesheets, benefits, email) and branding (Methow Fiber), suggesting an operational structure typical of cooperative telecommunications providers rather than an independent venture-backed business.

Name

methownet.com

Legal name

Methownet, LLC

Website

https://methownet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Methownet, LLC is a locally owned rural broadband ISP in Winthrop, Washington, serving residential and business customers in the Methow Valley with fiber and wireless connectivity since 1995.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Broadband Internet Service

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAE), Fiber-to-the-Premises/Building (FTTP/FTTB) Operators (HDAIACAC)

Keywords

• Fiber broadband internet
• Wireless internet service
• VoIP phone service
• Rural broadband access
• Fiber-optic installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Winthrop

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Broadband Internet: Monthly recurring subscription fees for residential fiber and wireless internet service at various speed tiers. Billing via OCEC Smarthub portal with monthly billing cycles.
2. Commercial/Business Broadband Internet: Monthly recurring fees for business fiber plans with dedicated connection speeds ranging from 100/100 Mbps to 1/1 Gbps. Some plans require 3-year contracts.
3. VoIP Phone Service: Flat-rate monthly VoIP service at $29/month including continental long distance and all taxes and fees. Bundled with fiber-optic accounts at no additional cost.
4. Installation and Technical Support Services: Hourly-billed services for network tech support site visits, Wi-Fi setup assistance, device connection help, and troubleshooting beyond initial connection verification.
5. Equipment Sales: Sale of wireless receivers, routers, and VoIP hardware (wireless handsets and base stations) required for service delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Methownet, LLC provides fiber-optic broadband internet, wireless broadband, and VoIP phone service to residential and commercial customers in the Methow Valley of Washington. The company also offers professional fiber and wireless installation, technical support, and related customer-premises equipment. Service is delivered through the OCEC membership territory via grant-funded fiber build-outs (ARPA, PWB, BEAD) and the legacy wireless network.

Product overview

Methownet, LLC is a locally owned internet service provider serving the Methow Valley (Winthrop, WA) since 1995, operating as part of the OCEC (Okanogan County Electric Cooperative). The company offers two core internet connectivity products: fiber-optic service and wireless broadband, both with professional installation options. Fiber service is delivered through a strategic grant-funded build-out covering North Valley (MethowFiber Network) and South Valley (Okanogan PUD Network), with residential plans ranging from 100/100 Mbps to 1/1 Gbps and commercial plans with dedicated connections. Wireless service covers areas from Mazama to Carlton, requiring line-of-sight to access points with speeds from 5/2 Mbps to 25/5 Mbps. Add-on services include VoIP phone service starting at $29/month with number porting capability, and SmartHub for online account and billing management. All services include technical support, with dedicated local teams available for both residential and business customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Fiber Plans High-speed fiber-optic internet service for residential customers in the grant-funded Methownet LLC Network (North Valley) with speed tiers of 100/100 Mbps, 250/250 Mbps, and 1/1 Gbps. Billing is monthly via the OCEC Smarthub portal and VoIP service is included free with all fiber accounts.
• Commercial Fiber Plans Business fiber-optic internet service with dedicated connections and symmetric speeds ranging from 100/100 Mbps to 1/1 Gbps, available on the North Valley MethowFiber Network and the South Valley Okanogan PUD Network. South Valley commercial plans require 3-year contracts. Includes a 100% locally based support team available after hours and on weekends.
• Wireless Internet Service Wireless broadband internet delivered via radio signals between Methownet access points and customer receivers, available across the territory from Mazama to Carlton and in South Valley Okanogan PUD areas. Requires line of sight to access points, with multiple speed tiers ranging from 5/2 Mbps to 25/5 Mbps.
• VoIP Phone Service Voice over Internet Protocol phone service that replaces traditional landlines for residential and business customers. Priced at a flat $29/month including continental long distance and all taxes and fees, and included free with any fiber account. Supports number porting and E911 delivery of customer address to emergency responders.
• Fiber Installation Services Professional fiber-optic installation service performed by Methow Fiber Technicians or contractors, covering site survey, Network Interface Device (NID) placement on the building exterior, Ethernet wiring, and primary router setup. May require multiple visits; post-installation Wi-Fi setup and troubleshooting available on an hourly-billed basis.
• Wireless Installation Services Professional wireless internet installation service that includes a site survey to determine optimal antenna placement, receiver installation, and router setup. Typically takes 1-3 hours depending on property layout and line-of-sight conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fiber speeds up to 1 Gbps symmetric available for residential and commercial customers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Okanogan PUDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Okanogan PUD for South Valley fiber network. Commercial plans available through Okanogan PUD Network with 3-year contract requirements. OCEC/Methownet serves as implementation partner for PUD-funded build-out areas.
• NISCcoreTechnology or IntegrationNISC (National Information Solutions Cooperative) provides database and software systems used by Methownet for customer management, billing (OCEC Smarthub), and employee training through NISC Pathways learning platform.
• OCEC (Okanogan County Electric Cooperative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCEC membership territory is the service area for Methownet fiber expansion. OCEC Smarthub platform handles billing for Methownet accounts. Employees access OCEC systems including timesheets and benefits portals.
• Smarthub (by Payselect/Cooperative.com)coreTechnology or IntegrationSmarthub is the online billing and account management platform used by Methownet/OCEC. Customers use Smarthub for bill payment, auto-pay setup, and account management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• T-Mobile Home Internet: T-Mobile Home Internet is a 5G fixed wireless access service leveraging T-Mobile's mobile network to deliver home broadband. It competes directly with rural wireless ISPs like Methownet on speed, price, and zero-install convenience in under-served geographies.
• Starlink (SpaceX): Starlink is a satellite broadband service actively capturing rural US customers with no local infrastructure requirement. It is the most relevant emerging substitute for Methownet's wireless offering and a competitive threat to rural broadband economics broadly.
• Hughes Network Systems: HughesNet is a satellite broadband provider competing for rural US households, including Pacific Northwest. It is a relevant emerging substitute for Methownet's wireless broadband offering in unserved portions of the Methow Valley.

Direct peers

• Ziply Fiber: Ziply Fiber is a fiber-to-the-home ISP serving rural and small-town markets across the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana). It is the most direct comparable to Methownet because both operate FTTH networks targeting underserved rural geographies in Washington with similar residential and commercial speed tiers.
• Hood Canal Communications: Hood Canal Communications is a small rural cooperative-style broadband provider in Washington State delivering fiber and telephone service to a defined local territory. Like Methownet, it operates an infrastructure-based fiber network in a contained geographic market with local support, making the business model directly comparable.
• Rainier Connect: Rainier Connect is a Washington-state fiber and fixed wireless ISP serving rural and small-city customers with residential and business broadband. Its product mix (fiber + wireless + VoIP) and locally rooted operations mirror Methownet's approach in the Methow Valley.

Broad incumbents

• Consolidated Communications: Consolidated Communications is a regional fiber and wireline telecom carrier serving rural and small-town markets across multiple states, including Washington. Its broadband, voice, and business-connectivity offerings overlap with Methownet's product set at a larger scale.
• Astound Broadband: Astound Broadband (formerly Wave/RCN) is a regional cable and fiber ISP with broad Pacific Northwest presence offering residential and business broadband, voice, and TV. It overlaps Methownet's markets from a larger-portfolio perspective and competes in adjacent Washington territories.
• Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink): Lumen/CenturyLink is a national incumbent wireline telecom provider with significant rural Washington footprint. It competes indirectly via DSL and fiber where it overlaps Methownet's territory and is the typical incumbent alternative in rural broadband markets.

Others

• NoaNet (Northwest Open Access Network): NoaNet is a Washington-state nonprofit middle-mile fiber network supporting rural ISPs and public entities. It is relevant to Methownet as a potential wholesale/upstream partner or infrastructure counterparty in the regional broadband ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/methow-valley-ski-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 methownet.com