For Immediate Release: 07/11/19 John B. Rhodes, Chair Contact: James Denn |James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080 19064 / 15-M-0388 July 11, 2019
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PSC Approves Settlement with Charter CommunicationsCharter Required to Expand High-Speed Broadband Network to 145,000 Residences and Businesses Entirely in Upstate New York |
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Charter Will Pay Extra $12 Million to Further Expand Broadband Service to Additional Premises
ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved an agreement with Charter Communications Inc., known as Spectrum, to resolve disputes over the Commission’s network expansion condition that was contained in the Commission’s approval of the company’s merger with Time Warner Cable, Inc. in 2016. Under the terms of the agreement, Charter will expand its network to provide high-speed broadband service to 145,000 residences and businesses entirely in Upstate New York and will pay an additional $12 million to expand broadband service to additional premises. “Broadband is crucial to driving economic growth and opportunity, especially in communities that are currently unserved or underserved, and Charter needs to deliver broadband access for New Yorkers,” said Commission Chair John B. Rhodes. “Approval of this agreement enables the parties to move forward, without being hampered by the time and cost of litigation, to accomplish our important goals to expand access to high speed broadband. This settlement allows the parties to move forward to deliver broadband access to New Yorkers more swiftly and certainly.” Under the terms of the settlement:
In 2016, the Commission issued an order conditionally approving the merger of Charter and Time Warner Cable, Inc. A dispute subsequently arose between Charter, and the Department of Public Service and the Public Service Commission, concerning the network expansion conditions imposed by the Commission on that approval. Today’s approved agreement resolves that dispute without any further litigation. Comments were received from local elected officials, business groups, labor unions and individual members of the public. Comments supporting adoption of the settlement noted that it ensures all network expansion will be in Upstate New York and that it’s a reasonable settlement of the issues in the proceeding. Charter's New York customer base will benefit from the further deployment of Charter's video, telephone, and broadband network, on a schedule that Charter has agreed is achievable. However, the settlement includes consequences should Charter fail to meet those important milestones. The settlement provides stronger incentives for Charter to meet its future build out commitments in the form of $2,800 payments to escrow for any missed targets on a per address basis. Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 15-M-0388 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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