Mitchell County residents are seeing changes in their internet service options as local providers Zito Media and French Broad Electric work to enhance their offerings, while Starlink provides an alternative through satellite technology.
Zito Media has announced upgrades promising increases in internet speeds for some customers by up to 500%. This enhancement aims to provide “a best in market internet package” to the area, according to a recent letter sent to Zito Media customers. For those not receiving the speed upgrade, the company has pledged rate reductions. Additionally, Zito Media is transitioning to fiber-only services and phasing out its TV2GO streaming option to focus on enhanced internet offerings. Despite these improvements, Zito has faced customer dissatisfaction regarding service consistency and billing issues.
Local resident Joshua McKinney reported being inappropriately charged for modem rentals by Zito Media.
“Zito Media has charged me $10 a month, on multiple accounts, since September of 2022 for modems I never rented from them,” Mckinney shared. “It took me two phone calls, two hours each to get every bit of money refunded to me.” He has encouraged other Zito Media customers to check their billing statements carefully. A local representative from Zito Media declined to comment on billing issues.
Meanwhile, French Broad Electric is actively expanding its internet service footprint, funded by two grant projects. This expansion is set to include a total of 1,921 addresses and 38 businesses, with service connections beginning in a matter of weeks. However, their ability to expand is capped by their current electric service areas, limiting broader internet service provision. A map of the proposed service areas is available on their website, frenchbroademc.com.
“It has been an overwhelmingly positive response,” said Nathan Huff, a French Broad Electric representative. “We have close to 300 people already signed up before even moving in.”
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, offers a satellite-based internet service that is available in Mitchell County. This service provides an alternative for residents in remote or underserved areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is not feasible. Starlink aims to provide high-speed internet via satellites that orbit closer to the Earth, promising lower latency and more reliable connections compared to traditional satellite services.