Sprint Car Champion and small business owner
“Slow isn't an option in my book. Now that MCG is running full-throttle, all my business and personal communications needs are running smoothly. They provide high-speed Internet, television and phone service. It's all in one easy package, with one price and one bill. If I don't have to worry about my communications, I can concentrate on what else is around the corner.”
Oskaloosa to have Locally Owned Communication Service
Mahaska Communication Group (MCG), a local company, is making history by implementing a new fiber-to-the-world network that will deliver state of the art communications in the Oskaloosa community. With the approval of the Iowa Utility Board, the MCG digital system will provide a cost effective, more complete set of services than are currently available in the community. Local and long distance telephone, high speed internet, and digital cable television are included. Additional services are planned.
MCG has begun to install its system in the central Oskaloosa Business district. Build out to the total community and surrounding areas is projected to be ongoing for the next year or so. Already more than five miles of the fiber-optic cable are in place, providing Internet access and other services.
"This consolidated-service approach is a groundbreaking concept in the U.S.," states MCG operations manager Jolene Fincel. "It's unique that a new communications company has been created to provide a community comprehensive services from one source. Mahaska Communication Group is seeking to 'future-proof' the businesses and residents of Mahaska County, positioning them to benefit from tomorrow's communication opportunities by offering a 'fiber-to-the-world' technology."
MCG was developed over the past six years through the problem solving of Musco Lighting, which had been laboring on its own communication challenges. "As we developed really good Internet services for ourselves, we realized how limited the services were for our employees at home in our community and other businesses," says Musco president Joe Crookham. Crookham has served on the Governors Alliance for Telecommunications Technology board and has worked with several providers of communication services. His conclusion was that a local service provider, such as MCG needed to happen.
"We have been increasingly providing services to the Mahaska Community for the past four years, and currently provide wireless Internet service to more than 100 customers and fiber to more than 20 customers. Our wireless and fiber-optic services are used by the City of Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Vennard College, William Penn University, North Mahaska and Eddyville-Blakesburg Schools, Mahaska Health Partnership, and the Oskaloosa Public Library, " states Joe Crookham.
Musco technology manager, Tony Rivera, sums up the new system: "Certainly, this is a big challenge, but we're already doing most of this for our own needs at Musco. Since we already have reliable support for Musco's global operations, the biggest challenge is building the distribution system to all the MCG customers." Rivera says, "Here's something to think about as you envision the potential for this kind of a local communications company. Any spot in town that is connected could become a television broadcast point. Take a camera to the local football stadium and telecast the game to the television set in any home on the system."
MCG has its office open at 112 First Avenue West offering a convenient location to pay bills, ask questions, and try services. The MCG main phone number is 676-1000.