Technology

Public Service Commission revokes Charter merger agreement with Time Warner Cable

Charter Cable's Spectrum may be forced to stop doing business in NY for failing to live up to a service agreement and "misleading the public", a state utility regulator said Friday. Charter is a communications hub for two million state residents, delivering digital cable TV, Internet services and phone service to customers. Friday's actions are meant to address Charter's failings and to ensure NY has a partner interested in the public good, not just lining its pockets.

"We need to seek a different provider", Rhodes said. Delays stalled the company's progress, however, and a year ago Charter reached a settlement with the commission to lower its expansion requirements. But the company must ensure that cable and internet customers' service is not interrupted during the transition to a new provider, the commission said.

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, who is running for Congress this fall, has pushed for Charter/Spectrum to live up to the promises the company made when it took over Time Warner Cable.

The commission said the USA broadband provider failed to live up to its agreement as part of the merger to build internet access to an additional 145,000 households and businesses in rural areas of NY under-served by internet providers.

Charter denies that claim, however, and has said it is ahead of schedule.

Charter has denied failing to meet obligations to expand broadband service.

Charter will undoubtedly do everything in its power to block this move, so don't expect Spectrum to suddenly vanish from NY in two months, but perhaps this will at least lead to some positive changes.

"Charter opted to include addresses. that were neither unserved or underserved, including addresses in densely populated areas", he said.

In a statement, Charter spokesman Andrew Russell accused the commission's actions of being politically motivated.

Cuomo is up for re-election this year.

Charter responded in its own statement that "in the weeks leading up to an election, rhetoric often becomes politically charged".

The PSC has fined Spectrum Cable's parent company for repeatedly missing its broadband and network expansion targets, a condition of its merger with Time Warner Cable.

Today in a move many didn't think would happen NY ordered Chater to leave the state.

The orders were approved by a 4-0 vote of the commission.

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Public Service Commission revokes Charter merger agreement with Time Warner Cable