HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.01.2005COUNCIL WORK SESSION
August 1, 2005
4:45 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Hurley, Kincaid, Greenwood, Clark, Schmitt, Gunder on, Welper.
Members absent: Cole.
Moved by Welper, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be appr
Absent: Cole. Motion carried.
Jon Koebrick, Senior Manager for Mediacom, updated the council on Mediac
creating a broadband platform, new products in Waterloo and Mediacom's rei
Mediacom has 1,700 franchise communities of which 85 percent contain
subscribers. Waterloo is among the 10 largest Mediacom systems. Mediaco
government subsidy or other financial support, and there is no risk for cit
gas/electric customers. Mediacom has spent over $1 billion on capital expen.
five years. Mediacom employs more than 1,200 Iowans (33 percent of comp.
employees in Waterloo. Mediacom pays nearly $40 million in annual sala
Mediacom paid more than $11.4 million in 2003 Iowa franchise fees and pai
Waterloo in 2004. Mediacom paid more than $5 million in 2003 Iowa pro
$273,000.00 paid to Black Hawk County in 2004. Mediacom paid $15.3 mill
and local option taxes in 2003.
Mr. Koebrick reported in July 2001 Mediacom purchased the system from A7
Mediacom committed to upgrading systems with less than 550 MHz wil
Mediacom has invested more than $300 million in upgrades and upgraded all sy
the art in 18 months or in approximately half the time promised. Mediacom c
with fiber option lines, over 4,100 route miles of fiber in Iowa. Mediacom re
separate systems from more than 160 to 9 (headends) and Waterloo was se
facility. Mediacom is currently using one network to tie the remaining syste
sonnet fiber rings.
Mr. Koebrick reported digital cable services are available in 100 percent of Iow
cable terminals are the base for the following new advanced services: Video on
Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD), Digital Video Recorders (DVRs),
Television.
Mr. Koebrick stated that High -Speed Internet is available in 100 percent of
speeds have increased dramatically at no additional cost. Mediacom is
Telephone Service Voice Over Internet Protocol services.
Mr. Koebrick reported Mediacom is bringing local businesses broadband se
and operate more effectively and competitively. Mediacom offers three distin
Services: Business VPN, Remote Worker VPN and Transparent Local Area Ne
Mr. Koebrick reported Mediacom provides cable in the classroom to all p
schools or approximately $546,960 in free video and Internet services to K-1
each year. Mediacom employees volunteer in community initiatives, are invol
program, local philanthropy, provide major local sponsorships for events in
involved in Partners in Education with Orange Elementary School.
Mr. Koebrick reported Mediacom built fiber connections to 7 city sites and
built for city connections at an estimated value of $42,000.00 per year. There
connections to 19 city locations with a minimum value of $18,240.00 per year.
26.5 miles of fiber for connections at 23 Waterloo schools with an est
$138,000.00 per year.
ved. Ayes: Six.
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Council Work Session
August 1, 2005
Page 2
Mediacom serves 185 High Speed Internet business accounts in Waterloo. Mr. Koebrick
reported when Mediacom acquired the system in Waterloo in 2001, there were 33 miles of fiber,
and there is currently 129 miles of fiber in Waterloo. Mediacom has built 7.25 miles of fiber for
commercial connections, including the Industrial Parks, Airport and the Eastside of the city, and
the fiber network build equals fiber proximity to nearly all businesses. Mr. Koebrick reported
the master headend located in Waterloo has a total investment value of approximately $1.766
million. Mediacom provided cable modems at no charge to the Grout Museum, the Bluedorn
Science Imaginarium and the Russell House with a construction cost of $1,563.00.
Mr. Koebrick reported that in Waterloo the cost for Family Basic Service is $40.95 per month,
and the FCC average national rate for the period ending December 31, 2003 was $45.32 per
month, and Muscatine Power and Water charges $43.99 per month. Mediacom offers Internet
service with cable with Family Basic saving dial up customers up to $23 per month from other
services.
Mr. Koebrick stated in the past four years Mediacom has fulfilled its commitment to build fiber
networks for the city saving the city and schools approximately $200,000.00 per year.
Mediacom has invested significantly by locating a Master Headend in Waterloo. Mediacom
launched state -of -the art cable services such as Video on Demand, Digital Video Recorders and
HDTV. Mediacom has kept rates lower than the national averages, built a system that will
deliver telephone competition, and increased jobs in Waterloo.
Councilperson Greenwood asked if Mediacom has fiber optic to businesses. Mr. Koebrick
responded Mediacom has fiber optic throughout the city, but not many businesses have elected it.
Mr. Koebrick stated they have fiber throughout the city and it is very easy to get it almost any
place in the community.
Mayor Hurley stated that he has been told one backbone serves the Black's Building, and a
number of small businesses want to tap into the fiber but they have been told they can't. Mr.
Koebrick responded the owner wanted to charge Mediacom to provide the service to the Black's
Building. Mr. Koebrick stated they would like to talk to them because Mediacom wants to
deliver it to them.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Welper, seconded by Kincaid that
the meeting be adjourned at 5:16 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk