cable oversight
Here, you'll find information pertaining to the City's franchise authority with Mediacom, which provides cable TV service to the Iowa City area.
The Cable TV Division, with advice from the Iowa City Telecommunications Commission, is responsible for negotiating and enforcing the contract which allows Mediacom to run cable lines through Iowa City.
news
Basic Tier Rates To Increase
The Cable TV Division recently completed the annual review of Mediacom’s rates for the basic tier, equipment rentals, and installation charges. Following FCC rules the rate for the basic tier (channels 2-22) will increase to $13.95. The current rate is $12.95. It is unclear precisely when Mediacom will begin charging the higher rate, but subscribers will receive a notice at least 30 days in advance.
In 2010 the unincorporated areas of Johnson County with an identical channel lineup paid $25.95 or $1.30 per channel. Iowa City residents rate was $12.95 or $0.65 per channel. The difference is $13.00. Based on an estimated 11% basic-only subscription rate the annual savings for all Iowa City basic-only subscribers was $291,720. The City of Dubuque had a basic rate of $26.15 or $0.82 per channel.
iowa city telecommunications commission
The Iowa City Telecommunications Commission (ICTC) is a five member body appointed by City Council. It serves as an advisory body to the City Council on matters of cable TV and telecommunications. The Commission's membership and duties can be found here, and its 2010 annual report can be found here.
(Note: The report is a .pdf document that requires Acrobat Reader. If you don't have a copy, you can download it by clicking on the icon below)
franchise and ordinance
The City's non-exclusive agreement with Mediacom outlines what is required of the company in exchange for use of the public right-of-way. The federal government has specific rules governing what a municipality may and may not require in a franchise agreement. The current franchise will expire in August 1, 2018.
