(Des Moines)– A bill that would have effectively banned the start-up of any new municipal utilities in Iowa and threatened the future of existing ones has died in the Iowa Legislature.
State Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan says the so-called “Mediacom Bill” failed to make it through the second funnel deadline late last week.
Lakes area officials had been keeping a close eye on the bill, as they look at the possibility of a feasibility study on establishing a municipal-type system that would provide cable television, telecommunications and high speed internet.
Private cable companies argued the bill would level the playing field in the competitive cable-television market. But local officials say they should have the right to be able to compete against the big companies.
