Waterloo Public Access Television was launched as a means of expanding citizen participation in local government. Three cable channels were made available for Public, Educational, and Government Access. Cable Channel 15 is the Waterloo Government Access Channel; Cable Channel 17 is the Waterloo Public Access Channel; and Cable Channel 19 is the Waterloo Educational Access Channel. WCTV and WGAT are supervised by the City Clerk.

The first Cable Television Production Coordinator was hired in March 1998, with the first Public Access Studio located in two rooms at the Public Library. In July 2001, the Public Access Studio was expanded and relocated to its current location at Waterloo City Hall.

We have a fully equipped television studio with three Digital-S television cameras, a switcher with a character generator and mixing board for studio productions and live broadcasts, an editing room with a Casablanca editor for use by the public, field equipment available for checkout, and an array of playback vcr's for the broadcasting of sponsored programs.

For more information visit Waterloo Community Television Website

Imortant Notice
Waterloo’s PEG Channels Moving into Digital TV World

The mission of Public Access television is to provide a free-speech forum open to all, without discrimination or favoritism based on content. Waterloo Community Television (WCTV) achieves this goal. Its sister channel is Waterloo Government Access (WGAT), which exists to make local government more transparent to community residents.

These two local channels, plus two educational channels, are undergoing a change to keep pace with newer technology in the cable television industry. Known as PEG channels (public, education, government), these are moving from an analog transmission to digital television beginning December 9.

For many TV viewers, this change will not be noticeable. But for those who do not use digital TV, viewing access will continue only on televisions linked to a digital tuner or adapter. Mediacom works in partnership with the City of Waterloo to make channel space available for PEG channels (15, 17, 18, 19). Customers will retain viewing access even though the signal transmission will switch to digital.

Mediacom is giving its non-digital customers FREE digital tuners that function as “adapters” – bringing the digital signals into clear view on older, non-digital television screens. The digital tuner or adapter is known as a DTA. It is a small, simple device – not much larger than a deck of cards. Simply connect it beside or behind a television and the full set of PEG channels becomes viewable. The local PEG channels retain their display numbers but will be viewable only in a digital format beginning Dec. 9.

How to view Waterloo PEG Channels after Dec. 9, based on three (3) viewing options:

1.Viewers with digital cable service (approx. 50% of Mediacom customers) – No changes; your digital cable box tunes-in digital PEG channels

2.Newer televisions with built-in QAM tuners (TVs manufactured since 2004) – No additional device needed; tune-in at 79.2, 79.4, 79.5 or 79.6

3.Cable customers with non-digital service (no set-top box) and non-digital televisions – A digital tuner (DTA) is needed; get one FREE from Mediacom (modest fee for 2nd DTA use)

For more information:
Contact Waterloo’s Public & Government. Access Channel coordinator:
ed.stoffer@waterloo-ia.org
Or, contact Mediacom’s Communications Director, Phyllis Peters:
ppeters@mediacomcc.com or 515-246-2295

Contact Information:
Waterloo Community Television
Edward Stoffer Cable TV Production Coordinator
City Hall
715 Mulberry Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 291-4568
Fax: (319) 291-4571
Email: ed.stoffer@waterloo-ia.org
Office Hours:
Monday, 11:00am-8:00pm
Tuesday, 8:00am-9:00pm
Wednesday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Thursday, 8:00am-9:00pm
Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm