Local Mediacom cable customers now have access to more high definition channels, Internet services will be on a more stable platform very soon, officials said this week.

Mediacom acquired Andy Cable earlier this year.

Doug Frank, regional director of operations, said significant investments are being made to expand bandwidth and network capacity as a way to deliver faster Internet speeds.

“For those who have been experiencing ups and downs in Internet services, you should be on a more stable platform in the next 30 to 45 days,” Frank said.

The company is beefing up its ability to deliver capacity, or bandwidth, by improving the network.

At present, most former Andy Cable customers have download speeds of 20 Mbps. Once improvements are completed, Frank said, customers can remain at the company’s minimum speed – which will be faster than existing speeds – or purchase larger data packages. Mediacom plans to offer local residents:

• Download speeds of up to 60 Mbps with upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps
• Download speeds of up to 100 Mbps with upload speeds of up to 10 Mbps
• Download speeds of up to 200 Mbps with upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps

Eventually, customers may choose service at faster residential speeds.

 

Email addresses

Mediacom Internet customers will begin receiving notices about changing their email address in July, he said.

Initially, email with the “andycable.com” address will be automatically forwarded. Responses, and new mail will be displayed with a Mediacom address, he said.

Specific dates of the transition period will be communicated to customers – and the transition will last for an ample time period to facilitate address changes.

 

Recently, the television channel lineup changed slightly, with more current channels being offered in high definition. The added channels are HD versions of popular channels, such as AMC HD; CNN HD; USA HD. Channel numbers have been changed for a few channels, officials said, and those who do not use a digital box from Mediacom have been asked to “rescan” or “auto-program” their televisions.

 

Customers will also receiving pricing information describing new service package options in July, Peters said.

TiVO also will be offered beginning in July.

Frank said the company has already extended the hours for customer support.

“We now have phone support from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. every day, instead of just until 4 p.m.,” he said. “Pretty soon, we’ll have 24-hour phone support.”

The field staff also has been supplemented to address issues more quickly, he said.