Work is underway in Dawson City to remove old cable television lines from utility poles around town. The city has hired a contractor to disconnect the outdated equipment from homes and businesses, with crews only needing access to the outside of buildings.
The work follows the May 31, 2026 shutdown of Dawson’s publicly-owned cable service, which had been running since 1984. The service was costing the city about $225,000 to $250,000 a year while bringing in only $140,000, leaving a net cost of roughly $99,000 annually. Taking down the lines is expected to cost about $150,000, but the city says the move will save money in the long run.
The city must have all its cable gear off the poles by August 15, 2026. That deadline comes from Yukon Energy, which owns the poles and says the equipment no longer meets environmental rules.
Residents who have questions about the removal can call City Hall at 867-993-7400 or email [email protected]. Nobody needs to be home for the work, since crews only need to access the outside of buildings to disconnect the lines.
The end of the cable service means changes for some local groups. The community radio station CFYT had used the cable channel to show rolling ads and community notices, and is now looking for other ways to share that information. City council meetings, which used to air on the cable system, can now be watched live through a Zoom option. The city may also explore posting recordings on YouTube down the road.
As the old infrastructure comes down, residents already have a modern alternative. Northwestel has finished a fibre-optic upgrade in Dawson City, giving people access to up-to-date television and internet services. City officials say they worked with Northwestel to help residents switch over.
