Mediacom Lights Up VoIP in Iowa

Mediacom Communications Corp. said Friday that it has launched its voice-over-Internet-protocol telephone service in Iowa.

In a press release, Mediacom said it rolled out the VoIP service in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls market Friday, with plans to make it available to 65% of the homes the MSO reaches in the state by the end of the year.

Mediacom is the largest cable operator in Iowa.

Previously, the MSO -- which is teaming up with Sprint Corp. to offer the telephony service -- had tested the VoIP service in two markets and had made the product available in its Gibson City, Ill., system.

Pricing for the service is as low as $29.95 per month for customers who also take the MSO’s “Family Cable” video package and high-speed-data service. The price rises to $39.95 for customers who take either Family Cable or high-speed data. The charge is $49.95 for the voice service alone.

The voice package includes unlimited local and long-distance calling in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. Features including voice mail, caller ID, three-way calling and call forwarding are available at no additional charge.