Mediacom Communications launched IP telephony service in Iowa late last week, offering it initially in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area.

The company plans to offer the service to about 65 percent of its homes passed in Iowa by year-end, and to the rest of its Iowa properties by the first half of 2006.

Mediacom's calling plan starts at $29.95 a month -- $20 off the standard monthly price of $49.95 when bundled with video and data services.