College Student
“To me, the equation is simple: Phone + High-Speed Internet + Digital Television = 3 communications services for one low price. They pass the test as the best communications package around.”
Common Questions
When will fiber come to my home/business?
Please see our map of the rollout schedule. For more information, call us at (641) 676-1000.
Are there charges to switch service providers to MCG?
No, there are no fees to switch providers. If service is stopped and re-started at a later date, a reactivation service charge will apply.
Are prices going to increase after I switch?
MCG is committed to maintaining competitively priced services. Pricing will change only if content providers change their wholesale cost.
Will MCG be around in 5 years?
Yes, this is our community. MCG was created to serve Southern Iowa and we are committed to providing service for the long term. We have a strong support staff, including system administrators, outside plant technicians, network engineers, and telecommunication consultants that are dedicated to serving you. We have assembled a team of experts capable of handling a wide range of telecommunication issues. We already have a strong presence in the community by providing high-speed wireless and fiber optic service to many business and residential customers.
Will I be charged a fee for the construction of fiber to my home?
We are currently offering a FREE installation promotion. MCG will pay the construction costs for the fiber distribution network throughout the community. However, costs are greatly reduced if the customer premise equipment, mounted on the side of the home, is installed as construction is taking place. Therefore, we strongly encourage homeowners to sign the permission form before construction has begun in the area. If a construction crew must come out to your home after construction in your area has been completed, there may be some installation costs incurred by the customer. When you sign up for service, we request permission to attach the customer premise equipment and install fiber on the side of your home.
Tell me about the installation.
When subscribing to Internet service, MCG will install, free of charge, one CAT-5 network jack inside the house. For digital television service, MCG will install CAT-5 wiring for each set top box leased. Set top boxes are required for every television set that the homeowner wants to operate independently. (For example, a homeowner may share a set top box between two bedrooms, and utilize existing coax cable. However, the television sets will view the same channel.) For telephone service, existing phone jacks will be used. Set-top boxes are limited to five per household.
Do I need to change my phone number?
No. You are not required to change your phone number. The new MCG prefix is 676 and while we encourage people to change to a new number, it is not mandatory.
Are there special programs available for low-income residents or hearing impaired residents?
Lifeline is an Iowa low-income telephone assistance program that subsidizes connection charges of basic phone service and provides a monthly credit on the telephone bill of $7.75. Eligibility requirements apply. Please contact a customer care representative for more information.
Customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired or deaf-blind may qualify for the equipment distribution program sponsored through Relay Iowa and Telecommunications Access Iowa. This program distributes telecommunication devices to Iowans who are eligible. Please view the Hearing-Impaired page or contact a customer care representative for more information.
What is a set top box and why do I need one?
A set top box is a device that converts the digital video signal, sent over the fiber, into a signal suitable for a TV set. These are required because most television sets are not capable of handling the IP-based packets that digital television is transmitted on.
How do I use voice mail? How do I use the features of my phone service?
Download the Phone Feature User's Guide and the Voice Mail User Guide. (Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.)
What are community access channels?
To keep residents of the MCG service area informed, MCG is offering two community access channels. These channels (12 & 17) provide residents with local news about upcoming events. They also will air locally produced broadcasts of government meetings, church services, sporting events, and other programming.