Cook County News Herald

Local open house events to test-drive new Mediacom services




Mediacom Communications is in the final steps of extending its fiber-based telecommunications network and adding new network capabilities to make a wide assortment of digital video and high-speed data services available to Grand Marais residents and businesses.

By November 30, the company will begin offering Internet service with download speeds of up to 200 Mbps, an advanced TiVo® digital recording service, an expanded television lineup with HD reception for dozens of the most popular broadcast and cable channels, and a competitive home phone service. In early 2018, Mediacom will launch its 1 Gigabit Internet Service throughout Grand Marais.

“Our company is proud to have made a significant investment and extend our fiber network in ways that bring the most advanced services to homes and businesses in Grand Marais,” said Jason Janesich, area operations director for Mediacom operations in northern Minnesota.

“I know people have been anxious to connect to Internet with residential speeds that start at 60 Mbps, and a choice to receive a 200-Mbps connection— a speed eight times faster than the broadband threshold set by the federal government. Speed is critical to power the growing number of broadband-dependent devices people use today.”

To bring new services and advanced broadband capabilities to Grand Marais, Mediacom has transitioned its network to an all-digital platform. The technology changes require video subscribers to use a Mediacom digital box or cable card with all cable-connected televisions. To assist residents with information about the transition and new services, the company will use the Cook County Community Center as a temporary customer service center where open house events will be held Thursday and Friday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Mediacom customer service specialists and technicians will staff the open house and provide hands-on product demonstrations. Residents will be able to schedule appointments to connect their homes or businesses to high-speed Internet and home WiFi service. Open house hours are set for 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.

The open house will make it convenient for current customers to receive digital boxes that will be needed when analog channel reception is replaced with an all-digital channel lineup beginning December 5 and completing December 12. Mediacom will provide customers with up to two digital boxes (receivers) at no cost through December 31, 2019. (Orders must be placed by March 31, 2018 to qualify for the lease-free receivers).

All current analog video channels will be completely converted to a digital format by December 12. Subscribers also will see the addition of many family TV channels offered in HD at no additional cost, and the arrival of a more extensive selection of premium and specialty channels.



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