Charter Cites Big NY Spending as It Defends Compliance With TWC Deal Conditions

Charter Communication's buy of Time Warner Cable “brought substantial benefits to New York and over the next few years will provide far more than the two billion dollars in net benefits required in the Merger Order,” Charter said in a Friday letter to New York Public Service Commission Chairman John Rhodes. The company responded to concerns raised by a Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) counsel (see 1710030046) and relayed by Rhodes to Charter CEO Thomas Rutledge in an Oct. 12 letter. “Charter has already expended hundreds of millions of dollars in capital and operating expenditures and on internal resources to comply” with merger conditions, Charter replied in Case 15-M-0388. The company redacted many supporting numbers. Rhodes sought “further investigation” into Charter compliance with the PSC order approving the buy of TWC. Rhodes said he shared Cuomo’s concerns about a diminishing workforce and a current labor dispute. Also, Rhodes said Department of Public Service staff received “numerous customer service complaints” about broadband and cable services and staff couldn't independently verify Charter still sells TWC’s “Everyday Low Price” service to new customers.