Get Stock Quote Here Charter Communications (CHTR) is an American cable telecommunications company, which offers their services to consumers and businesses under the branding of Charter Spectrum. Providing services to 5.9 million customers in 29 states, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States by subscribers, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications and by residential subscriber lines it is the tenth-largest telephone provider. In late 2012 with the naming of longtime Cablevision executive Thomas Rutledge as their CEO, the company relocated their main headquarters from St. Louis, Missouri, to Stamford, Connecticut, though many operations remain based out of St. Louis
Charter CEO meets with FCC chairman on cable acquisitions The chief executive officer of Charter Communications Inc (CHTR) met last week with the head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the cable company's proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable Inc (TWC) and Bright House Networks. The meeting Wednesday came as the FCC continues its review of the proposed tie-ups after an informal 180-day FCC review period ended March 25. Charter CEO Tom Rutledge met with FCC chairman Tom Wheeler Wednesday to discuss "the public interest benefits of its proposed transaction with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks and the ways in which it will enhance competition," according to a filing with the FCC by Charter. It is the second meeting between Wheeler and Rutledge in less than a month; the pair also met March 16, according to a separate Charter filing. The company discussed the expansion of its "broadband network to new customer locations and its commitments to settlement-free interconnection and broadband service without usage based pricing or data caps," the filing said. In a brief interview Tuesday as he exited a Senate hearing, Wheeler declined to comment on the status of the Charter review. "Stay tuned," he said. Charter said in May that it would buy Time Warner Cable, the fourth-largest U.S. cable company, in a $56 billion cash-and-stock deal that would make it the No. 2 U.S. Internet and cable company after Comcast Corp (CMCSA). Shareholders of both companies and most U.S. states have approved the deal. Charter also announced in March it would buy Bright House Networks in a $10.4 billion deal. Various media outlets reported in March that Wheeler is likely to circulate a draft order approving the deal with conditions. Five Democratic senators including Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders have raised concerns about the proposed tie-up. New Charter would be the third-largest pay-TV provider in the country, serving roughly 17.3 million customers, and the second-largest broadband provider, with 19.4 million subscribers in nearly 40 states. Time Warner Cable declined to comment. Charter said Monday in a statement it is continuing to "have productive conversations with the FCC and we look forward to a timely resolution." It said New Charter would deliver faster minimum broadband speeds and a comprehensive low-income broadband program. LINK - http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...fcc-chairman-on-cable-acquisitions/ar-BBrDi8E
Verizon exploring deal with cable company Charter: WSJ (Reuters) - Verizon Communications Inc, the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier, is exploring a combination with cable company Charter Communications Inc, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Verizon Chief Executive Lowell McAdam made a preliminary approach to officials close to Charter and the company is working with advisers to study a potential transaction, the Journal said. The WSJ added that it was unclear if Charter's executives would be open to a transaction and that there was no guarantee that a deal would be struck. Charter declined to comment, while Verizon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Charter's shares surged nearly 9 percent to a record high of $338, before easing to trade up 6.4 percent at $330 on Thursday. Verizon's shares were down 1.6 percent at $49. Verizon had a market capitalization of $203 billion as of Wednesday's close, while Charter was valued at nearly $84 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data. A Verizon-Charter combination would bring together Verizon's more than 114 million wireless subscribers with Charter's cable network, which provides television to 17 million customers and broadband connections to 21 million, the Journal said. Verizon's traditional wireless business has been losing customers to smaller rivals T-Mobile U.S. Inc and Sprint Corp and the company has been looking to diversify its revenue stream. To that end, Verizon struck a deal to buy Yahoo Inc's core internet properties. But, the deal has been cast into doubt after Yahoo disclosed data breaches last year. Charter completed its acquisition of Time Warner Cable Inc last year.
