Cable TV Changes Coming to Dubuque

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Daren Sukhram

Story Created: Dec 7, 2009 at 8:54 PM CST

Story Updated: Dec 7, 2009 at 9:07 PM CST

DUBUQUE - The possibility of a new cable provider in Dubuque means Mediacom is ending it's agreement with the city.

Mediacom isn't leaving Dubuque, but it's not required to provide all the perks.

Flipping through Mediacom cable in Dubuque looks the same as anywhere else. But customers may not realize that cable follows a very detailed service agreement with the City of Dubuque.

"It's kind of a contract between the city and the video provider to offer this service," Dubuque's Cable TV Coordinator Craig Nowack said.

Now, that's all changing.

Cedar Rapids based FyreSTORM Cable and Fiber applied for a state license to provide service in Dubuque.

Mediacom Spokesperson Phyllis Peters says its deal with Dubuque makes it impossible for Mediacom to compete.

So the company dropped the agreement and applied instead for a state license that doesn't carry as many regulations.

It could mean lower cable bills in Dubuque.

"when there is competition then you have better services and presumably lower prices," Nowack said.

It also means Mediacom no longer has to provide certain perks.

That includes a 10% discount for senior citizens, free cable to city buildings and schools and a higher number of public access channels.

"We would rather the competitor follow the Dubuque franchise for the level playing field, because that's an agreement that's good for our community," Nowack added.

But Mediacom says it won't necessarily drop those perks. Both groups say they want what's best for the cable customers.

The Dubuque City Council is discussing it's options of how to fix the situation.

That includes looking into how much it would cost the city to run its own cable service.

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