Charter Provides Free Speed Increases For High-Speed Internet Customers

ST. LOUIS, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Charter Communications continues to make fast even faster – for free. Charter today announced that it has increased its Internet download speeds on the Charter Internet Express and Charter Internet Plus tiers and is also increasing both the upload and download speeds on the Charter Internet Max tier, at no additional cost to customers. Plus, Charter showed its creative side in the development of its "Fast Free" commercials, airing this month.  

Rather than beat the drums about uploads and downloads and what the "upgrade" means for the company, Charter chose to let consumers show what it means to them. In an industry first and example of what is possible to achieve with their service, Charter used its own Internet technology to cast, create and direct three commercials. Utilizing web cams, the director filmed customers in the comfort of their own homes, sharing how they feel about their faster Internet speeds. "We believe we provided a personal punctuation on what  faster Internet means to  our customers," said Judy Wu, Senior Director of Customer Marketing for Charter.    

"Having a chance to participate in the Charter commercial was a terrific experience," said Debra Leigh Robitaille, a Charter customer who appeared in one of the commercials. Our family members live all over the country and travel a lot. Now, no matter where in the world they are, if they have Internet access we can have a real-time video chat, just like they're here in the room with us."

Jenny Rich, another Charter customer, said, "I had a blast shooting the commercial. As for my Charter Internet, it's fast, reliable and makes things like downloading, chatting, streaming radio and watching videos all easy. Instead of waiting for things to download, I can get to the fun stuff faster."

"For Internet users, it's far more than a service," said Rich DiGeronimo, Vice President of Product Management for Charter. "Fast Internet access with no waiting is an integral part of their lives, giving them an instant connection to the world."    

Charter Internet customers have experienced continuous improvements with increasing upload speeds and the recent addition of PowerBoost® (1), a temporary extra burst of speed during downloads, when network capacity is available.

The upgrades to Charter Internet speeds referenced earlier are as follows:

• Charter Internet™ Express now has download speeds up to 8 Mbps (previously up to 5 Mbps) and upload speeds up to 1 Mbps.
• Charter Internet™ Plus offers download speeds up to 16 Mbps (previously up to 10 Mbps) and upload speeds up to 2 Mbps.
• Charter Internet™ Max provides downloads up to 25 Mbps (previously up to 20 Mbps) and upload speeds up to 3 Mbps (previously up to 2 Mbps).

"It's important to a consumer who can't always pay more to get more, and Charter understands that," added Mr. DiGeronimo. "Charter Internet is faster, it brings our customers great value and it doesn't cost them more. Charter provides the fastest most reliable Internet speeds available(2), and increasing these speeds is no-cost bonus. It's another way we can demonstrate our commitment to our customers and to continually enhancing our products and services."

Charter Internet Ultra60 service is also available in many of Charter's markets, with download speeds up to 60 Mbps.

For more information, on Charter's television, Internet, and phone services, visit charter.com. The new Fast Free commercials can be viewed at charter.com/freefast

(1) POWERBOOST is a registered trademark of Comcast Corporation.

(2) comScore, Inc., Throughput Report, Q1-09. Faster claim based on a comparison to Internet download speeds averaged across all of AT&T/BellSouth, Qwest and Verizon's broadband Internet offerings (including both DSL and FiOS) by these providers in areas serviced by Charter. Reliable speed claim based on comparison of the difference between average observed broadband download speed versus AT&T/BellSouth, Qwest and Verizon's advertised broadband download speed weighted across all of a provider's broadband Internet offerings in areas serviced by Charter.

About Charter

Charter Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CCMM) is a leading broadband communications company and the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services, including advanced Charter Cable™ video entertainment programming, Charter Internet™ access, and Charter Phone™. Charter Business® similarly provides scalable, tailored, and cost-effective broadband communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business Internet access, data networking, video and music entertainment services, and business telephone. Charter's advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.

SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.