CPUC Hearing - 2026-02-25
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California Public Utilities Commission
Follow its sittingsSpeaker 2
Thank you so much. And thanks for being with us today, Mr. Neal. Just so everybody knows, assigned Commissioner Baker reviews the transcript of all of our public participation hearings. And as his advisor said, I know that he's very interested in what everybody has to say.
So, as we're getting started here, let me just state if you want to speak during today's public comment, please call us 1808571917 and enter the passcode 1673482Pound. Then, and most importantly, you have to press star one on your phone. The operator will get in touch with you and take your information, like your name and city, and put you into the speakers queue. Now, I would like to give everybody a brief overview of the California Public Utilities Commission, what we do, and then provide a brief overview of the proceeding. The commission is the state agency that regulates privately owned utilities to provide essential services to the public, such as electricity, gas, water, and some elements of telecommunications.
There are five commissioners at the commission, the CPUC, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. The five commissioners make all of the final decisions on cases that come before the commission, including this merger application that we're here to discuss today. As the assigned administrative law judge in this proceeding, that means I get to manage all of the documents that are an information submitted, and I evaluate all the information that's coming in, including your input. I also get to work with our experts and our expert staff members in the commission's communications division to put together a proposed decision. So, there are four parties who are currently excuse me, five parties that are currently interveners in this case.
And right now, they are working on requesting information from the applicant, doing discovery, putting together their testimonies in order to provide input into this case. We definitely have a possibility that we're going to be holding hearings in this case in April. And just so everyone knows the public advocate's office of the California Public Utilities Commission, and they're called Cal Advocates, they're one of the interested parties in this proceeding, and they are required to participate to advocate for the interest of customers or ratepayers. After we see all of the input from the interest parties, I will be developing recommendations with the assistance of communications division and propose the recommendations to commissioner Baker. I've got to put together a proposed decision that gets published for additional public comments before we take into consideration any public comment proposed and put together a final decision.
The final decision gets put before the five commissioners for a formal vote at the commission business meeting. Then the five commissioners decide whether they adopt the proposed decision or it is something different, like writing up and adopting their own decision called an alternative excuse me, an alternate decision in this proceeding. So, we'll see what happens. We anticipate this decision to be issued before the statutory deadline in this case, which is the January 2027. So, application is about on one hand, a landline telephone company merging into another company.
But additionally, this is about a really big telecommunications company merging with another big telecommunications company and the services provided by the two companies, their various lines of business, and all of that coming under Singular control. We held in person public participation hearings in Los Angeles and San Diego because we wanted to find out about the potential impact this merger might have, especially in Southern California. We're doing two final public participation hearings virtually, make sure we get as much input as possible from throughout the state. The proposed transaction could affect customers who use Cox and Charter Communications companies with respect to their various telecommunications services. According to Charter, the proposed transaction will generate significant benefits for the California ratepayers.
Charter states that it will be able to extend additional service and pricing options to many of Cox's current customers. Charter states that their additional service offerings could include more choice and value in video service and higher quality mobile service. Charter also notes in their application that they'll be able to provide better wages and benefits for the current Cox workforce. Consumer advocates argue that this proposed transaction between Charter and Cox poses potential anticompetitive risks, which could have negative impacts on customers and the services they provide. Another great concern is that Charter's proposed benefits may not reach low income customers or customers from disadvantaged parts of the state.
So, to get a better understanding about how the public feels about this transaction, we are holding another virtual public participation hearing to get that input. Additionally, if you'd like to provide a written public comment, you can always give us feedback on the dock card. And I will talk about how to do that in just a moment. For example, a recent study published by one of the parties in this proceeding showed that charters pricing plans are different, depending on whether there is competition in a geographic market. One thing we're looking to find out from these public participation hearings is whether the situation still exists.
Before we turn to the public, I would like to share that there are several ways of making comments on this record, including on the docket card. And to find out more information about how to provide public comment on the docket card, I encourage you go to our public advisors website at www.cpc.ca.gov/pph. We're now going to turn to the public. If you'd like to speak, please call 1808571917 and enter the passcode 167300482Pound. Then press 1 on your phone.
Please provide your name when prompted. And if you're a public official, please state your title and position in addition to your name. The court reporters are transcribing everything that is said in this hearing today. And our court reporters have a difficult job. So, when it's your time to speak, we ask that you speak slowly and clearly so that the court reporter can capture everything that you say.
To ensure that we have an accurate record, it might be necessary for one of our reporters to interrupt speaker and ask himself to repeat himself if something is not understandable. When you begin to speak, please state and spell your name, and importantly, tell us the city that you are calling from. You can decide anytime before the end of this meeting that you want to speak. Simply press star one on your phone. Each speaker is going to have approximately three minutes of time.
And if you go far over that, you're going to hear a chime sound. We're going to be able to hear you most clearly if you speak directly into your phone or headset. And it is best not to use speakerphone. It's really important to mention that this is not the time or place to ask questions about your individual bills or services. If you have questions about your bills or services, I encourage you to contact Charter or Cox, or you can contact the CPUC's consumer affairs branch.
You can get them at 1806497570, and they can help with billing issues. If you look at the PowerPoint on the slide, you will see that there are two phone numbers listed for billing and customer support and questions at Charter and Cox. Please don't hesitate to call customer service at Charter at (844) 701-4096 or Cox at (800) 234-3993. You'll also find the public advisor's phone number and email address on the slide on today's hearing. The customer service reps from Charter and Cox are going to remain available for at least an hour after the conclusion of today's meeting.
So, please don't hesitate to get in touch with them. Finally, don't disclose your individual phone number or your address when you provide your public comment. This proceeding is open to the public and being recorded. If that makes you nervous and you don't want to speak today, that's okay. As I noted before, you can still submit your written comment on the docket card.
And don't hesitate to reach out to the public advisor's office to find out more information about how to do that. And again, the website is www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph. We're not going to be answering questions today about this proceeding in this hearing. We're here to listen to your comments and listen as you are providing us your information. Okay.
We have reached the moment of public comment. I'm going to say that phone number one more time, and then we're going to open the lines. If you'd like to speak, please call us +1 (800) 857-1917 and enter the passcode 1673482Pound. Don't forget. Press star one on your phone, and then you'll tell the operator your name and city when they get on the phone with you.
Then you'll be put into the queue. And let us know if you're an elected official. To our operator, thank you so much for your help today. First of all, are there any public officials on the line that you know of?
Speaker 2
Wonderful. Let's please open the line to our council member, and we can begin.
Speaker 5
Good afternoon. This is Sal Melendez, council member for the city of Montebello. And first of all, I appreciate the opportunity to share my perspective on the Charter Cox transaction. I've been a dedicated resident of Montebello for more than thirty years and now have the honor of serving as council member and past mayor for the last eight years. One of my goals has been to empower residents to participate in the decisions that affect their lives.
The combined Charter Cox company will adopt Charter's minimum starting wage of at least $20 per hour. Jobs can become careers through their on-site trainings, tuition reimbursement, retirement matches, and much more. I do wanna thank the PUCs for your work. They're viewing transactions and ensuring they serve the public interest and encourage you to approve the deal sooner than later. Also, Charter has demonstrated a clear commitment to the customer experience, which our primary Latino residents in Montebello have personally experienced.
Their twenty four seven US based customer service teams ensure these customers can always reach a real person. Notably, Charter operates bilingual call centers, a model that is expanding to Cox's California footprint would allow more Californians to get the assistance they need in the language they're most comfortable in. Also worth noting that Charter and Cox operate in separate areas, so it still creates a stronger competitor against national providers rather than reducing options. And this transaction is much smaller and lacking in complexity than previous proceedings like the Verizon Frontier deal in which 10 times the number of counties were impacted. As such, I hope the PUC can act efficiently so that the service can be available to more people as soon as possible.
Thank you for allowing me to speak today.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much, mister Melendez. Have a wonderful day. Operator, our next caller, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next comment comes from Scott Ashton with Chamber of Commerce. Your line is open.
Speaker 7
My name is Scott Ashton. I'm the CEO of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. The Oceanside Chamber represents businesses of all sizes as well as nonprofits and local institutions. We advocate for economic growth, workforce development, and business opportunity that supports Oceanside now and into the future. We're here today to express our support for the proposed merger of Cox Communications and Charter Communications.
Cox has been a valued communications provider in parts of Southern California, delivering Internet, TV, mobile phone, and smart home services that residents and businesses rely on every day. In Oceanside, our recent growth, especially in our thriving downtown, has been powered by small businesses. Those businesses depend on reliable communication services to serve customers, manage operations, and stay competitive. Cox has been a dependable partner, and we believe that this merger would help strengthen those services. We also see potential workforce benefits.
The combined company would allow would adopt Charter's policy of 100% US based workforce. Cox employed in Southern California could benefit from a starting wage of at least $20 per hour, along with expanded access to debt free degree and certificate programs and additional long term financial opportunities. These kinds of investments in workers can create real lasting benefits for our region through stronger careers, higher earnings potential, and greater economic stability. Finally, we believe that this transaction will help these companies scale, compete, and innovate in a rapidly evolving industry. For these reasons, the Oceanside Chamber urges the commission to approve this transaction.
Thank you for your time.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next comment comes from Steve Sanchez with La Quinta Kelceman. Your line is open.
Speaker 8
Thank you. Competition is the lifeblood of innovation and the safeguard of the consumer. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Steve Sanchez. I'm a city councilman here in Riverside County.
And I'm calling calling it today to express my support for the proposed transaction between Charter Communication and Cox Communication. When I evaluate matters like this, I focus on three core principles, consumer protection, economic competitiveness, and a long term community benefit. First, the telecommunication marketplace is a highly competitive and evolving rapidly. This transaction strengthens The US based company's ability to compete with some of the largest global providers in broadband, mobile and video services. Strong competition ultimately benefits consumers through improved services, continued innovation, and more competitive pricing options.
Second, workforce matters. Charter's commitment to maintain a 100% US based customer service and Salesforce and extending that model to Cox employees that represents a meaningful investment in American workers and a minimum starting wage of at least $20 per hours, strong benefits, workforce training and veteran hiring commitments that reflects the kind of economic standards many of our communities value that strive to uphold. Third, from a consumer standpoint, this transaction includes tangible protections, including outage credits, transparent pricing without annual contracts, service reliability commitments. These are practical safeguards that directly address long standing customer concerns. So reliable communication infrastructure.
It's not a luxury. It is essential to households, small businesses, education, public safety and economic growth. A stronger, more competitive provider with clear workforce and consumer commitments serves the broader public interest. So, these reasons, I respectfully urge the Commission to approve the proposed Charter Cox transaction. I believe this transaction clearly meets the public interest standards and deserves approval.
Thank you for your time and consideration Commissioners.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Danny Hess with Pasadena Media. Your line is open.
Speaker 9
Hi. I'm Danny Hess, d a n n y h e s s e, and I'm production tech for Pasadena Media. We provide what is called public education and government programming in the Pasadena area. PEG access television channels are essential, and these channels play a crucial role in transparency efforts by covering local government meetings. As important as these channels are as sources of local news and civic engagement, the customers are provided really inferior access to them.
Six years ago with the pandemic restricting in person access to public buildings to attend sitting department meetings in person, paid channels became the most immediate source to view these meetings. And in Pasadena, the decision was made to televise and archive most of them, a decision that has stayed. Unfortunately, even with the importance of these channels are made clear, Charter continues to provide PEG programming to customers an outdated standard definition resolution. Although PEG providers originate programming in high definition resolution, HD became the standard over fifteen years ago, and nearly all PEG providers completed their transition to HD over ten years ago. A clear example of the harm that occurs is when informational slides provided in HD at a public meeting are impossible to make, and you can't even see it, you know, when they're downgraded to SD.
In addition, Charter has not been providing paid programming scheduling information and electronic programming guides. The customers are deprived of their ability to locate, view, and record and otherwise take advantage of services that they're paying for. So per state law, paid channels must be serviceable by all video subscribers. In Pasadena, paid channel space on Charter Zumo streaming apps with live TV services and the Spectrum TV app included with the cable TV subscription both displayed information of the city
Speaker 9
city of Pasadena. So this seems rather careless. So I encourage the CPUC to attach the following conditions for the combined company. Upgrade the high definition channels to all paid providers, provide paid channels on all video service offerings, including cable boxes, streaming applications, such as Zumo, and other, streaming, situations as the Spectrum TV mobile app. And three, provide paid programming information on electronic program guides.
And thank you so much for taking the time to consider my concerns. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next comment comes from Judith Carey with Conservation Corps of Long Beach. Your line is open.
Speaker 11
Good afternoon. My name is Judith Carey and I'm the Director of Development for the Conservation Corps of Long Beach located in Long Beach California. The Conservation Corps of Long Beach handles projects ranging from recycling to ensuring trees are nourished and even learning or construction skills and using power tools for our core members. Workforce development through environmental projects and education opportunities are two important aspects of our program. Charter Communications has been a supportive community partner with the Conservation Corps by investing in our workforce development programs for young adults who largely come from disadvantaged communities, also providing educational opportunities to our students.
Through our partnership, Charter has helped improve the lives of our students and supported their goals through the Spectrum Community Center Assist Grant Program over the last three years. The investment in the Conservation Corps has been impactful to the community and our core members, again, who are ages 18 to 24 and largely come from disadvantaged communities where health and environmental inequities exist. It is enhanced community awareness and nurtured strategic relationships that help the city of Long Beach and the gateway cities thrive. Through our work in Long Beach and Signal Hill, we've seen how partners like Charter can make a difference in delivering tools and resources to underserved populations. We want this work to continue through a combined company with Cox Communications.
We respectfully request the CPUC to approve the merger of these two companies to continue providing opportunities to serve the community. Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 1
Yes, our next speaker is Bobby McDaniel with Black Chamber of Commerce. Your line is open.
Speaker 12
Hi. My name is Bobby McDonald, b o b b y m c d o n a l d, and I'm the president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County here in Anaheim, California. The Black Chamber of Orange County supports and contributes to the general welfare and progress of the African American community through economic development. We support diverse groups and a deeper understanding with diverse business communities to listen deeply to concerns of our residents and encourage positive change. It is with the business community in mind that we are here in support of the Charter Cox deal.
Reliable board board band access and investment in modern communications are essential to those goals. That's why we welcome any opportunity to lower costs for our local businesses in this region. The Charter Cox deal will help to do this for three reasons. Number one, first, Charter offers affordable prices compared to other larger competitors with savings up to $1,000 a year. Number two, because Charter and Cox aren't competitors, the joint company will be able to better compete, driving down prices, and improving services for everyone.
And number three, the combined company will return Cox overseas sales position to The United States. We're creating a 100% US based employee workforce. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. I hope that this transaction will be approved quickly, but to give California's better access and better options. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 13
Hi. My name is Susan Arias, interim vice president and chief growth officer at MAC, a nonprofit serving San Diego County with a mission to maximize self sufficiency with families and individuals in our communities through high quality programs in our our community. We serve a 100,000 individuals across San Diego County through five core pathways, economic development, affordable housing, education, health and well-being, and advocacy, and leadership. Connectivity and affordability are key to the people MAC works with. This new company will have nationwide pricing and provide more options for consumers, including low cost offerings for qualified families.
Cox customers won't be forced out of their existing plans if they prefer to stay, but they can move to Charter's plans anytime. All Charter plans have no contracts and no penalties for canceling early. We believe combining is also an opportunity to strengthen corporate community partnerships that make a difference in people's lives. Cox has been an important partner in our work, and we look forward to continuing the relationship under the new company. MAC strongly urges the commissioners to approve this application so that we can ensure that our families, regardless of ZIP code or income across San Diego County, have access to the connectivity tools and opportunities needed to thrive.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Taylor Brown with the office of Senator Megan. Your line is open.
Speaker 14
Hi. Good afternoon. I'm a legislative aide in the office of state senator Megan Dalley located here in Sacramento. The senator is a lifelong resident of rural Northern California. She's a family farmer and a small business owner and deeply committed to ensuring that the state decision making reflects the needs of rural communities.
And so this transaction presents meaningful benefits for California consumers, workers, and local communities, and those benefits should not be placed at risk by avoidable administrative delay. Cox customers would gain the option to transition to Charter's nationwide pricing model and its award winning a 100% US based customer service workforce available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week with clear commitments to outage credits and rapid service rest restoration, including same day technician dispatch when requested before five. These service standards are particularly important in rural and remote areas where the senator represents, and this connectivity is critical. And alternatives are often limited. So on behalf of the senator, I respectfully ask that the commission approve this merger.
Thank you for your consideration and for your service to the people of California.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Frank Yoko Yamah, the mayor of of the city of Cerritos. Your line is open.
Speaker 15
Thank you, dear commissioners. My name is Frank Aurelio Yokoyama. I'm I am honored to be the mayor of the city of Cerritos in Los Angeles County. I am proud to have served Cerritos since 2017 as a council member and now since 2025 as mayor. Cerritos is a city that takes pride in our strong local business and community culture.
Keeping our community connected requires infrastructure we can count on, including reliable, affordable Internet and mobile service. That's why I support the Charter Cox transaction. Doritos is in the Charter service territory, and our residents and businesses have come to rely on their connectivity. Charter's Spectrum Internet has consistently delivered reliability, outperforming other national providers. This transaction offers the chance to expand these benefits to Cox customers while increasing competition in the California market, which should lead to lower prices and better service.
In fact, existing Cox customers can save hundreds hundreds of dollars per year by switching to Charter's innovative plans that bundle Internet, mobile, and TV plus streaming apps. I'm also encouraged by Charter's approach to pricing. They offer affordable plans, including options for qualifying low income households with no contracts. Residents of Cerritos appreciate knowing exactly what services they are getting for what price, and all Charter plans have the flexibility to cancel when life happens. These are the kinds of consumer friendly practices that benefit our community.
This transaction serves the public interest. Without competition concerns or other obligations, this deal should be approved as soon as possible. Approval at the c p u s CPUC July twenty twenty six meeting keeps this entire transaction on track. Thank you. I am Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, mayor of Cerritos.
Thank you for listening to me.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comments this afternoon, mister Mayor. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Yes, our next speaker is Ann Marie Gabaldon, Feeding San Diego. Your line is open.
Speaker 16
Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Ann Marie Gabaldon, a n n m a r I e. Last name, g a v a l d o n. And I'm the director of corporate partnerships for Feeding San Diego, a nonprofit organization that connects people facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue throughout our region.
I'm here today to express our support for the proposed application. While combating hunger is our core mission, we recognize that in today's world, access to reliable high speed Internet, mobile and TV services is essential. Families needing connectivity to stay in touch with loved ones, access social services, apply for jobs, manage healthcare and enroll in food assistance programs. Cox has been a long time and generous partner in San Diego, not only through its philanthropy, but also by providing critical connectivity to our community. We believe that combining with a larger provider like Charter, it will lead to more competitive pricing and expanded access, especially for those who need it most.
We look forward to the positive impact this transaction can bring to San Diego and communities across California. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comments. Operator, we're about to call the next speaker. But before we do, can I please remind everybody, do not hesitate to state and spell your name? Also, let us know what you're calling in from. Okay.
Operator, to our next caller, please. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next caller is Kevin Flash, with Computers for Kids. Your line is open.
Speaker 17
This is Kevin Flash. That is k e v I n f l a s h. I'm the executive director of Computers for Kids located in West Sacramento. Good afternoon, commissioners. Computers for Kids helps low income households get affordable Internet, recycled computers, and digital literacy services.
These positively impact students and assist in workforce development. The Charter Cox application should have public benefit agreements that are similar in structure to those in recent acquisitions and consolidations. The public benefit agreements should commit to reaching rural and remote communities and to assist low income households to be connected to the Internet and support digital literacy training. Most communication companies are good at providing infrastructure to be sold to consumers. Their strength does not lie in reaching out to low income households that need affordable Internet.
It's critical for the public good that this acquisition include public benefit agreements to reach these communities, including proper training of staff to steer away from upselling and strongly collaborating with organizations like CETF in supporting the adoption of low cost offerings that are part of their program. The inclusion of proper public benefits in this acquisition will have an important impact on students as they pursue their education, for job seekers using online services for employment, and preserving our environment through programs like the green technology initiative by recycling computers. Past practices by Charter have shown their commitment to communities through financial support of CETF programs like school to home, and that same commitment should be continued by inclusion of public benefit agreements in the approval of this acquisition. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Doug Zielasco with Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce. Your line is open.
Speaker 18
Yes, this is Doug Zielasco, Z I E L A S K O, CEO of the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce. We support the proposed transfer of Cox California to Charter Communications and urge the CPUC to vote for approval. The chamber believes the new combined company will provide significant benefits to the businesses and residents who call Mission Viejo home. Reliable access and investment in economic growth opportunities must continue to be at the center of our state's progress. And Cox and Charter have shown they are committed to furthering that vision throughout their proposed combination.
Thank you for the consideration and for your support.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next caller comes from Eric Walker with WCA Greater Los Angeles.
Speaker 19
Hello. Thank you everyone for your time. My name is Eric Walker. I'm the director of economic advancement with the YWCA Greater Los Angeles. And just a brief background, we were founded in nineteen eighteen ninety four, and we're dedicated to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.
And we do that through survivor services and empowerment of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, early childhood education, services at no cost to parents and care providers, senior services, and early childhood or youth after school programs. And we are in support of the transaction because we believe that economic empowerment and advancement are essential. They're essential to our mission, and we believe they're essential to many people in underserved locations. And this means that ensuring that all of those individuals have access to affordable, reliable broadband. And I believe and we believe that this merger, this transaction is essential to bring additional services to more locations, bring better cost savings to those individuals, and we believe that the philanthropic areas that Charter already serves will be expanded and can help serve many organizations like ourselves and continue to serve them to help these individuals.
This transaction moves us meaningfully towards increasing access to Charter's affordable broadband offerings and commitment to low income households that directly address the barriers our clients face. And Charter's bundled plans can save consumers up to a thousand dollars per year compared to other providers. So when our when our parents join, they save a lot of money and a lot of time with the customer service and cost savings. So this transaction is in the public interest, and we urge the commission to approve it. Thank you, everyone.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Bobbi Ferguson with Pasadena Media. Your line is open.
Speaker 20
Hello. My name is Bobbi Ferguson, b o b b I e f e r g u s s o n, and I'm a charter customer from Burbank and the chief production officer at Pasadena Media. I'm calling for this reason. We've all heard the phrase that change starts in your own backyard and that citizens should be informed about what's happening in their own community. Public Educational and Government Access or PEG television channels provide vital coverage of local government meetings, city and emergency communications, and opportunities for residents to learn valuable media production skills and create video content.
However, for decades, PEG channels have been treated as less than in terms of technical support and quality that has been provided by Charter. A high definition signal has been made available to all other cable channels, while PEG channels are still offered in a substandard standard definition signal, even though most PEG facilities have invested in acquiring and have been utilizing high definition equipment for over ten years. With this low quality video signal, it is discouraging for viewers to watch when they have such inferior access to media that serves as a tool for them to become more educated about their community. For example, it's almost impossible to even read any of the text or slides appearing on screen because the words are so muddy. It's also very difficult to determine what programming is actually being broadcast as electronic programming guides don't include PEG channel schedules.
Not everyone can attend their local city meetings in person and may not yet be comfortable with online streaming. I mean, would you want to watch your local meetings when it looks blurry with an image so comparatively small that you're not even sure what you're looking at? So I would strongly urge the CPUC to require the following conditions for this merger. Provide local PEG channels with a high definition quality signal to their customers. Provide PEG channels on all video service offerings, including boxes, streaming applications such as Zumo, and streaming applications such as the Spectrum TD mobile app, and provide PEG programming information on electronic program guides.
Oh my goodness. Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Luis Rivera, Social Equity Los Angeles. Your line is open.
Speaker 21
Hello, and thank you. My name is Luis Rivera, r I v e r a l u I s. And I'm calling on behalf of Social Equity Los Angeles. Social Equity LA works to ensure that low income communities throughout the county have access to technology and resources to close the digital divide. Communities here in Los Angeles still having difficulty access to broadband.
I have read the Charter Cox application to the CPUC and have the following input and consideration for the commission. Charter and COX should be held to the same standard as all previous corporate consolidations involving Internet service providers to commit to public benefits that are appropriate, fair, and comparable to previous transactions. The public benefits must include helping to reach rural and remote communities. This includes our brothers and sisters in the tribal lands. We need affordable Internet service for low income households.
Providing Internet service offers at least five years, including participation in the CPUC Home Broadband Lifeline pilot project. In addition, the charter must drop its requirement that low income eligible households must suspend their market rate service for at least thirty days before being able to sign up for an affordable Internet service provider for which they are eligible. This is economic coercion. Further, charter call center personnel need to be trained to assist low income households and not upsell them, as many of us have experienced. And they need to invest the appropriate amount to get under connected, unconnected, and unsustainably connected households online and trained in digital literacy.
Charter and Cox service areas include the majority of low income households in America and California, including 66% of households who are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program. They cannot escape doing their part close the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and provide digital equity. When Charter acquired Time Warner in 2016, Charter committed to 32,500,000.0 for the California Emerging Technology Fund Core Mission, and Digital Inclusion. CETF allocated 10,000,000 to CBOs for adoption and 10,000,000 to school to home, which directly benefits income low income residents and sustained amazing transformations to our school. We are grateful for Charter to doing that and urge them to make a comparable commitment in today's dollars.
We trust the CETF to work with all of us in a fair and transparent partnership. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Audrey Eger with Inland Empire Economic Partners.
Speaker 22
My name is Audrey Eger, a u d r e y e g g e r, public policy lead at the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, a dual county organization representing businesses and dedicated to advancing the Inland Empire as a place to live, work, and invest. On behalf of president and CEO Paul Gurneele, IEEP is in support of the Cox Charter Communications merger. The active engagement and provision of reliable broadband solutions have propelled the accessibility of digital resources in the Inland Empire and is exemplary of the deep investment of Charter into the diversified success of the Inland Empire in California. Cox and Charter's shared values and mission are apparent, and the synchronicity of ideals allows for an opportunity to further Charter's positive impact in the region and the state. This merger has the capacity to extend broadband access, workforce opportunities, support digital learning, strengthen local economies, and contribute to the overall advancement of the Inland Empire region.
The shared focus on connectivity and community advancement reflects the type of environment needed in California to transform opportunities for the success of both people and businesses. We encourage the CPUC to consider the benefits this merger will bring to our regional and statewide business community and support the Commission with any endeavors necessary on its path to completion. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Clint Olivier with Central Valley Business Federation. Your line is open. Hi, Clint. Please hit your mute button.
Mister Olivier? Please hit your mute button. We'll go to the next speaker. Our next speaker is Lisa Lisa Beck. Oh, there you are.
Can you hear Clint? K. We'll go to the next speaker, Lisa Baca with California Latino Leadership Institution. Your line is open.
Speaker 23
Good afternoon. My name is Lisa, L I S A, Baca, B A C A. I'm the executive director of the California Latino Leadership Institutes. I am requesting your support for the proposed Charter Cox merger. CLLI was founded in 2014 with the mission to preserve Latino contributions to California's diverse history and workforce development in Southeast Los Angeles, CELA.
Charter has been a valued partner in this work. Their investment in CLLI strengthens our ability to serve the Latino community and advance our mission in the CELA community. TLLI has sustained strong partnerships with the CELA cities, and the area is predominantly working class, underserved, immigrant, low income residents. During these trying economic times, it is essential for CELA community members to be able to access high quality, affordable, and reliable Internet service providers. Together, Cox and Charter are positioned to build their current service and programs that will greatly benefit the underserved CELA communities.
Charter has been a model corporate CELA community partner. Please support the Charter Cox merger. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Sandy Mendoza with Families in Schools. Your line is open.
Speaker 24
Hello. My name is Sandy Mendoza, s a n d y m e n d o c a. I serve as the director of advocacy at Families and Schools, a Los Angeles based family engagement and advocacy nonprofit working alongside low income families, students of color, and immigrant communities to advance educational opportunity and digital equity. For two decades, we have supported affordable broadband adoption across Los Angeles County through advocacy and direct partnership in initiatives like school to home, where we integrate technology into low performing schools to close both the achievement and digital divides. Past mergers in Los Angeles County have not consistently delivered promised benefits to low income families, and we cannot afford to repeat that pattern.
If the commission determines this merger is in the public interest, we respectfully urge you to attach strong enforceable public benefit conditions. First, Charter and Cox must be held to the same, if not higher standards as prior ISD consolidation with fair and comparable public benefit commitments, including meaningful deployment in rural, remote, and tribal communities. Second, affordability is a real crisis in Los Angeles. Families are often forced to choose between paying for Internet and paying for groceries. Affordable service must be guaranteed for at least five years with full participation in the CPAC lifeline pilot.
The thirty day suspension requirement shouldn't be eliminated, and call center staff must assist, not upsell eligible households. Finally, adoption investments are essential, charter, and Cox service areas that include 56% of households previously eligible for ACP. They must invest in community based organizations that connect and train unconnected families. Digital equity is foundational to education and opportunity. Please ensure this merger delivers measurable public benefit.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share our recommendation.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Clint Olivier with Central Valley Business Federation. Your line is open.
Speaker 6
Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Clint Olivier. I'm speaking today on behalf of BizFed Central Valley. We represent more than 30,000 businesses and 400,000 employees across the Central Valley.
For our region, reliable and affordable broadband is not a luxury. It's essential to running farms, manufacturing facilities, logistics operations, small businesses, and home based enterprises. We support overwhelmingly the proposed Charter Cox transaction because it strengthens broadband investment in communities like ours. Charter and Cox deserve distinct geographic markets. So this merger does not reduce competition in California.
Instead, it better positions a regional provider to compete with national and global technology and satellite companies already operating at scale. The combined company's commitment to 100% US based customer service workforce will create good paying American jobs. Central Valley families and businesses will also benefit from transparent pricing, contract free plans, and bundled services that can deliver meaningful annual savings. Most importantly, this transaction supports continued infrastructure investment and innovation in regions that depend on strong, reliable connectivity. For these reasons, BisFed Central Valley board respectfully urges the commission to approve the Charter Cox transaction.
Thank you for your time.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comment. Operator, for our to our next speaker, please. Yes.
Speaker 1
Our next speaker is Adam Ruiz with Greater Coachella Valley Chamber. Your line is open.
Speaker 25
Hi, good afternoon. My name is Adam Ruiz. That's R U I Z. And I'm speaking on behalf of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce in support of the proposed transaction between Cox Enterprise and Charter Communications. The greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce represents more than 900 businesses across 11 communities, serving nearly half a million year round residents in over 1,000,000 annual visitors.
Reliable broadband infrastructure is not a luxury for our region. It's a necessity for our small businesses, our tourism economy, and our underserved communities. Charter Communications has already demonstrated a strong commitment to the Coachella Valley through investments in digital access, community programs, and broadband solutions that help local businesses grow and stay connected. This transaction has the potential to expand that positive impact significantly. Together, Cox and Charter share a proven commitment to workforce development, digital literacy, and youth education.
Their combined resources and reach can extend broadband access to more families and entrepreneurs across geographically diverse areas like ours. We urge the approval of this transaction. It represents a real opportunity to strengthen regional economies throughout California and ensure that communities like the Coachella Valley can fully participate in today's digital marketplace. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Darrell Peden with SBX Youth and Family Services. Your line is open.
Speaker 26
My name is Darrell Peden, d a r r e l l p e e d e n. I'm the co CEO of SBX Youth and Family Services in Riverside and San Bernardino County. We work directly with low income families to secure affordable Internet, build digital skills, and connect residents to education, jobs, and health care, and we see every day how broadband shapes opportunity. I did review the Charter Cox application, and I believe any approval must include strong measurable public benefits consistent with past ISP mergers. And that means we need to make sure expansion should prioritize rural communities and tribal lands, and affordability must also be sustained and accessible.
Low income households need multi year, five years to start with, low cost options and full participation in state affordability efforts such as the CPUC home broadband lifeline pilot. Enrollment should also be simple without unnecessary service disruptions, and customer service staff should also assist eligible families without upselling higher cost plans. As you have consistently heard about the upselling going on. Adoption is equally important. Providers serving the majority of low income households must invest in digital literacy and community partnerships that help unconnected and underconnected residents get and stay online.
And so when we when we talk about the Charter and Time Warner acquisition back in 2016, they committed $32,500,000 to the California Emerging Technology Fund, and that was to advance digital inclusion statewide. That investment strengthened community based organizations like ours and schools serving low income residents. A comparable commitment in today's dollar would demonstrate continued responsibility to to California communities, and so we need to make that happen. We ask the commission to ensure this consolidation strengthens digital equity for all. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Melanie Berkholder, Council Member. Your line is open.
Speaker 27
Thank you. Melanie Burkholder, m e l a n I e b u r k h o l d e r, council member at the city of Carlsbad. Good afternoon, commissioners. On behalf of my constituents Carlsbad, I ask you to speedily approve the merger between Charter Communications and Cox Enterprises. This deal will deliver real benefits for the family families and small businesses I represent.
The sooner you approve it, the sooner they will be able to take advantage of those benefits. As a fellow public servant, I fully understand the many factors that must be weighed before making such a major decision. Thankfully, this merger is a clear cut case of a deal that's all gain and no pain for Californians. First and foremost, this merger will improve affordability for hardworking families and job creators. A combined charter Cox company is expected to offer broadband and mobile plans that could save families hundreds of dollars a year, and in some cases, more than $1,000.
I hear every day from my constituents who wanna save money however they can. This merger will prevent many people from being forced to make hard choices about where to cut back. Another important benefit is that a merged company will provide new and expanded choices for consumers. While many mergers lead to fewer choices overall, Charter and Cox will offer plans that include high speed Internet service, mobile service, television service, and numerous streaming services. This merger won't eliminate a competitor as the companies don't overlap, but it will create a stronger one with more options for consumers.
Given how this merger will improve the lives of my constituents, I hope that you will approve it soon. Delays will prevent families and job creators in Carlsbad from gaining access to more affordable options and expanded choices. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your commitment to the people of California. Thank you.
Speaker 28
Hello. This is Eric, e r I c, Reyes, r e y e s. I am calling from Brawley in Empiria Valley. I am speaking on behalf of Los Amigos de la Comenida, a federally recognized five zero one c three nonprofit serving underserved rural and border communities in Imperial Valley and surrounding regions to access services, resources, and breakthrough systemic barriers to improve their opportunities in an increasingly digital world. Los Amigos has extensive experience with broadband deployment and adoption challenges affecting low income households, farm worker families, English learner households, and communities with limited infrastructure.
Through community outreach, digital literacy efforts, enrollment assistance and advocacy, we regularly work with residents who lack affordable, reliable internet access and who face barriers navigating internet service provider requirements in our community from the border on the South to the Arizona Stateline to the East and the Salton Sea region and tribal lands to the North of us. This firsthand experience informs our perspective as an advocate for equitable broadband access in rural and remote regions that are essential as services as telehealth, basic service payments, and more move to a digital world. We have reviewed the California Public Utilities Commission application submitted by Charter Communications and Cox Communications, and we offer the following input for the commission's consideration. First, Charter and Cox must be held to the same standards as all previous ISP consolidations, including commitments to public benefits that are appropriate, fair, and comparable to those required in prior transactions. Anything less would undermine the commission's precedent and the public's interest with an emphasis on the underserved communities.
Second, public benefits commitments must include meaningful broadband deployment, particularly in rural and remote communities such as ours, including tribal lands, which include to the North, the Torres Martinez nation and to the South of us, the Kesha nation, where lack of infrastructure continues to deepen educational, economic and health inequities and disparities we have had to face for generations now. Third, public benefits must include affordable internet service for low income households for a minimum of five years including full participation in the CPUC home broadband lifeline pilot project to meet the standards of corporate responsibility in disadvantaged communities. And we must stress that Charter must be required to eliminate its policy forcing low income eligible households to suspend market rate service for thirty days before enrolling in affordable service. This requirement functions as economic coercion, discourages enrollment, and punishes families for seeking relief they are already eligible to receive. In our community work, we have repeatedly encountered residents who contacted Charter seeking affordable options were instead upsold to higher price plans.
Misinformed about eligibility or discouraged from enrolling altogether. This highlights the need for mandatory call center training focused on assisting low income households, upselling them and respect our community as they enter our region. For communities like ours, affordable broadband is not a luxury. It is essential infrastructure. We urge the commission to condition approval of this transaction on strong, enforceable, and equitable public benefits that truly serve California's most underserved communities.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment to comment.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comment. Thank to our next public speaker, please. Thank you.
Speaker 1
Our next speaker is Chris Miller with Pasadena Media. Your line is open.
Speaker 29
Thank you. My name is Chris Miller, c h r I s m I l l e r. I'm the chief operating officer of Pasadena Media, the nonprofit community media center that oversees public education and government or PEG cable access channels in Pasadena. I'll focus my three minutes on PEG channels like these and video services provided by these companies. In my thirteen years here, Charter's treatment of PEG channels has been substandard, and I believe the public's interest will not be served by this merger without attaching some basic conditions.
PEG channels all over California offer many public benefits, including transparency through public meeting coverage, serving as engagement civic engagement and information hubs via local news and event coverage. Despite these crucial functions, Charter provides customers with inferior access. Pasadena Media switched to all high definition equipment when they moved locations thirteen years ago, except for the equipment delivering our video signals to Charter as they demanded payment not just to upgrade, but to continue delivering standard definition signals from a new location. As this didn't appear to be legal then and still doesn't today, we had to decline. Unfortunately, many PEG operators have fallen prey to this practice.
As our channels are still downgraded, customers are unable to read many of the charts and graphs presented at meetings in public locations where high resolution screens have been used for many years. That's a serious harm to consumers trying to participate in their local government and education systems. In addition, Charter customers have trouble accessing PEG channels at all, even though channels are part of the services they pay for. As PEG information isn't displayed in electronic programming guide, customers are deprived of their ability to effectively locate and view PEG channels. Also, per state law, PEG channels must be receivable by all video subscribers.
Charter does not include our PEG channels in streaming video offering. In Pasadena, PEG channel space on the Zumo streaming apps with live TV service and the Spectrum TV app that's included with a cable TV subscription displays information for the city of Norwalk. This inadequate treatment of PEG channels is a major disservice to Californians, and I urge the commission to address it with these requirements for the combined company. One, provide HD channels to PEG operators. Two, provide PEG channels on all video services, including cable and streaming.
Three, provide PEG programming information on electronic program guides. And four, discontinue the practice of charging PEG providers for signal transmission. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak today.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Kent Daisy with Oceanside Community Television. Your line is open.
Speaker 30
Thank you very much. My name is Kent Daisy, k e n t d a v y. I am the chairman of board of the Oceanside Community Television Station, which operates as k o c t dot o r g. I'd like to second and urge the commission to pay attention to the speakers from Pasadena and their requests on merger conditions that would include the high def channels to for PEG providers. We have had at our station, I've been associated with KOCT as a volunteer for several decades now, both as a journalist, retired newspaper editor and college teacher, and as a volunteer grant writer, we have we have had a high def signal for years now, and yet do not get our our our material, our content broadcast on Cox cable on the high def station.
Additionally, the I have had probably in the last several years, dozens of typically elderly people approach me and say, how come I can't see what the what programming is on KOCT on the programming guides? Because that information is not put on there. It would be a great service to people, marginalized groups particularly elderly, people who are not necessarily technically savvy enough to figure out how to get certain kinds of programs that that kind of information be available, be required by the arrangements of this merger to happen. So I would like to basically second and ditto what has been recommended by the Pasadena speakers today. Thank you very much.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comment. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Yes, thank you. Our next speaker is Helen Guenthin with American GI Forum Education. Your line is open.
Speaker 31
Good afternoon. My name is Helen Galvan. I'm the Executive Director of the American GI Forum Education Foundation of Santa Maria. We've assisted households throughout California, mainly in the Tri Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura to access affordable broadband and digital training for nearly ten years in partnership with CTF and the CPUC and with Internet service providers, including Charter and Cox. I've read the Charter Cox application to the CPUC and asked the commission to consider, as in previous mergers involving Internet service providers, Charter and Cox, to be held to commit to public benefits that are appropriate, fair, and comparable to previous transactions.
And we think that the public benefits commitments must include deployment that reaches rural and remote communities adoption, so investing in an appropriate amount to get households online and trained in digital literacy Also affordable internet service for low income households. But besides service, this also calls for charter to drop two practices that have been a major issue for consumers. One is the requirement that eligible households suspend their market rate service for thirty days before signing up for affordable internet service. And the other is the practice of upselling. We, the American GI Forum, have had to train our digital navigators to deal with charter agents doing upselling while trying to assist low income, non English speaking households.
We applaud Charter for its past investment in CETF's adoption and school to home projects, and we urge Charter to make a comparable commitment in today's dollars. We continue to trust that CTF will work with all of us in a fair and transparent partnership. Thank you.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Zamara Pena with HOPE. Your line is open.
Speaker 32
Thank you, Chair and Commissioners. My name is Siamara Pena, and today I'm here on behalf of HOPE. Since 2010, Charter has been a consistent partner in supporting HOPE's leadership development efforts and our broader work to expand opportunity for Latinas across California. That partnership has supported programs that prepare Latinas for leadership leadership roles in public service, business, and community institutions, as well as research initiatives, such as HOPE's reports on the economic status of Latinas, which are used by policymakers, educators, and community leaders to better understand workforce participation, economic mobility, and barriers to opportunity. Given that Charter and Cox share no overlapping geographical footprints in their service area, they are not competing directly for consumers.
We believe this merger can cut cost, which in turn can be shared to a combined millions of customers resulting in less expensive, high quality Internet service. Hope's experience with Charter reflects a corporate partner that has demonstrated an understanding of the importance of leadership development, data driven insights, and narrative representation as tools for strengthening communities and supporting economic opportunity in California. Our comments are based solely on this direct experience and are offered for the Commission's awareness. Thank you.
Speaker 1
I'm sorry. Our next speaker is doctor Takoy Porter with National Act Action Network. Your line is open.
Speaker 33
Thank you. Hello. Again, my name is doctor Tecoy Porter, spelled t e c o y. Last name Porter, p o r t e r. And I am calling on behalf of National Action Network Sacramento chapter of which I serve as its president, I'm here in support of the Cox CO, the National Network and leading civil organizations, trade filing, Reverend Elsh.
Criminal work, forefront of criminal form, equal voting, and additional opportunities throughout California. Digital equity is a civil rights issue. Every person and community deserves access to the information technology resources needed to fully participate in society. Yet low income households and communities of color are disproportionately left behind when it comes to affordable, reliable broadband. We believe that this deal can make a difference in closing this gap.
This transaction will strengthen the competition in the marketplace, driving down prices, and raising service quality for everyone. This deal doesn't reduce choice because Charter and Cox don't serve in the same areas. Instead, it creates a stronger company with more resources that can better compete with other providers. And we are also encouraged by Charter's commitment to invest in grants in 2026 to support digital
Speaker 1
Judge, I'm not hearing you. We we lost them. Their line was disconnected. They must have lost the line. We'll go to the next speaker.
Eric Grovold with San Diego North Economic. Your line is open.
Speaker 10
Hello. Good afternoon, members of the commission. My name is Eric Bruvold. That's spelled e r I k and then Bruvold, b as in boy, r u, v as in victory, o l d. And I'm the CEO of the San Diego North Economic Development Council, an economic development organization working in the Northern third of San Diego County.
We work with or we serve 1,200,000 people and about 600,000 jobs and we believe that this merger should be approved by the commission for at least three reasons. First, the merger provides an opportunity for targeted infrastructure upgrades that will continue to enhance bandwidth and capacity on the networks in North County. Our region is home to more than 53,000 manufacturing jobs and more than 21,000 additional technology and communication jobs. The ability of these industries to communicate with a highly complex and global web of suppliers, collaborate and work with customers will be directly and positively impacted by the approval and the combines firm's ability to deploy greater capital investment into our region. Second, we believe that Charter's commitment to a customer first service model, which includes no annual contracts, credit for services interruptions and the flexibility to choose between keeping their current plan or switching to bundled offerings can save North County households hundreds or maybe even more than $1,000 per year.
This directly will put money back into the hands of families to spend on other goods and services, including those provided by the thousands of small businesses that call our region home. And finally, Charter's commitment to a 100% US based customer service model ensures that consumers will receive timely and reliable service. These standards represent the kind of customer service protections that SDN EDC supports. For these reasons and others talked about on this call, we urge the commission to approve this merger and move forward to allow investments to flow into our region. Thank you very much.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Teresa Schicklin with Laguna Baddell Chamber of Commerce. Your line is open.
Speaker 34
Thank you. This is Teresa Schicklin, t e r e s a, capital s, c h I c k l I n g. And I am president and CEO of the Lupin and Miguel Chamber of Commerce. And we appreciate the opportunity to comment in support of the proposed transaction between Cox and Charter Communications. Both Cox and Charter have demonstrated a strong commitment to the communities they serve that is reflective in their longstanding investment in local communities.
The combined company will have the scale to keep prices competitive while continuing to offer fast Internet and reliable mobile coverage, essential for small businesses, especially for areas like Lecuna Niguel where we have more of a bedroom community and a lot of smaller or at home businesses. It'll improve for remote workers and families throughout Orange County. We encourage the commission to consider the benefits of this transaction. And I thank you for the time and consideration for our support.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, to the next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Payal Avalon with The Wooden Floor. Your line is open.
Speaker 35
My name is Payal Avalon, spelled p as in Paul, a y a l a, v as in Victor, e l l a n, calling from Santa Ana, and I'm the director of communications and marketing at The Wooden Floor, a nonprofit in Santa Ana, California.
Speaker 35
the foremost creative youth development organizations in the country. We inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education. The Wooden Floor uses a long term approach grounded in exploratory dance education to foster confidence within each child to innovate, communicate, and collaborate to prepare students for long term success in higher education. I just wanted to share on behalf of our organization that Charter Communications has been a supportive community partner with The Wooden Floor by investing in our students, most of whom work tremendously hard to break barriers and become the first generation in their family to attend higher education. One hundred percent of students who graduate from our program enroll in higher education.
Through our partnership, Charter has helped improve the lives of our students by supporting their goals for higher education through grants and college scholarship support. Working for over forty years in Orange County, partners of the wooden floor, like Charter, can make a difference to those striving to improve their lives and achieve their dreams. We hope that the support of the community we serve in and around Santa Ana continues and hopefully expands. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Maura Gildea, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership. Your line is open.
Speaker 36
Hi there. My name is Maura Gildea, m a u r e g I l d e a. I'm the director of economic development and digital access at the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership or MBEP, and we represent the Central Coast Broadband Consortium, which serves Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties. Our consortium works directly with local governments, community based organizations, and ISPs on broadband deployment, affordability, and adoption, and we conduct mapping and data analysis, support infrastructure planning, and work to ensure low income households can actually afford and use the networks that are being built. We strongly urge the Commission to hold this transaction to the same standard of public benefit commitments that were required in previous ISP consolidations, and these commitments must be appropriate, fair, and comparable to prior transactions.
First is deployment. Public benefits must prioritize the hardest to reach rural and remote communities, including tribal lands and high poverty neighborhoods. On the Central Coast, terrain and cost barriers make deployment very challenging, and public benefit commitments can help close those final gaps and make sure that state and federal investments are maximized. Additionally, infrastructure alone does not guarantee connectivity. Affordability drives adoption, and Charter and Cox serve a majority of low income households in the state, including most ACP eligible households.
They should commit to offering affordable plans for at least five years, participate in the CPUC's home broadband lifeline pilot, and eliminate the thirty day service suspension requirement, and ensure call center staff are trained to enroll, not upsell eligible households. And lastly is adoption. An appropriate investment must be made to support digital literacy and device access without adoption funding billions in infrastructure risk being underutilized. The California Emerging Technology Fund has a strong transparent track record stewarding these investments effectively and prior commitments have delivered real impact across California. This merger is about increasing market power, but the public deserves meaningful and forcible benefits and return that advance digital inclusion in every region of the state.
Thank you for your consideration.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Marlene Barrazza with ACCOC. Your line is open.
Speaker 37
Alrighty. Hello. My name is Marlene Barrazza, m a r l e n e, Barrazza, b a r r a z a. Good afternoon, commissioners. I am the director of communications for the Association of California Cities, Orange County.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments in support of the merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications. ACCOC represents the regional policy interest of Orange County cities and special districts. Collectively, our members provide essential public services to approximately 3,200,000 residents and routinely collaborate across jurisdictional boundaries to address a broad range of shared policy priorities. On behalf of ACCOC, we recognize that our regional our region depends on future ready broadband infrastructure. Because Charter and Cox do not overlap in the market, the proposed transaction will not eliminate competition for customers, but instead will allow the combined company to dedicate greater resources towards expanding network capacity and improving reliability.
We understand that the combined company plans to return Cox overseas sale positions to The United States resulting in fully US based workforce. Charter has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding high speed Internet access, enhancing service reliability, and investing in local communities across California. This transaction presents an opportunity to further strengthen broadband infrastructure, support local businesses, and ensure residents benefit from advanced connectivity. From a regional economic perspective, a unified and modernized communications platform supports small business growth, innovation, and workforce productivity, key pillars of Orange County's economy. Through our work in Orange County, we have seen firsthand how partners at Charter and Cox deliver meaningful tools and resources to our cities.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that the CPUC approve this transaction so the combined company may continue serving our community. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, for our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is President M. C. Townsend with Regional Black Chamber of Commerce. Your line is open.
Speaker 38
Very good. I I apologize for that. I have to unmute. Madam Townsend, N. C.
Townsend, T O W N S E N D, President and CEO of the Regional Cal Black Chamber of Commerce here in the San Fernando Valley, Southern California. Thank you very much today for receiving all of the amazing comments today on behalf of Charter and Cox Communication. We together agree with all of the callers as well of the much needed approval of this. The chamber, the Regional Cal Black Chamber, it's a mission driven organization dedicated to advancing economic opportunity for small minority and women owned business throughout our regions here in San Fernando Valley and the greater Southern California region. Since our founding now twenty five years ago, we function really as an action oriented chamber serving more than 500 plus members in over 35 excuse me, and multiple empowerment zones here in the San Fernando Valley.
The chamber has worked closely with corporate partners, certainly like Charter, to strengthen our local economies and promote workforce opportunities in historically underserved communities. So Charter's deep local presence here in our region supports small businesses and create pathways to opportunities for our community. Charter has been a valued United Community Partner, of course, with the chamber and has a consistent presence in our region, which is monumental. Through this engagement with the regional CAL, Charter has demonstrated a commitment to workforce development, a meaningful collaboration with community based organizations as well. So from the perspective of our members, some 500 plus, with over 160,000 residents and businesses in the region of the San Fernando Valley of the five regions that we cover, this proposed transaction between Charter and Coxwood strengthen the combined company's ability to compete in the marketplace, maintain competitive pricing, which is huge, and continue investing in innovation and customer support, true benefits that directly impacts California families and our small businesses.
However, commissioners, unless the current PUC timeline is adjusted, this transaction and the benefits it offer are likely at risk. An abbreviated timeframe for review of this transaction makes sense. And Charter and Cox are regional providers with excellent service records, no footprints overlay, no utility or poll infrastructure ownership or carriers of last resort obligation. These are key factors that, should hopefully make you the commissioner's decision straightforward. A straight timeframe shorten will demonstrate that the state's climate is not anti business, while also assuring that the PUC is able to protect consumers and employees.
Therefore, on behalf of our members here at the regional Black Chamber in Southern California, we respectfully ask you to certainly approve this transaction by 2026 and deliver the workforce economic benefits to the California expeditiously. And of course, as usual, the regional Cal Black Chamber stands always committed and remain available for your service at any time. Thank you for hearing my comments today.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, our next speaker please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Steven Rozanski with Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Your line is open.
Speaker 39
Hello. I'm Steve Rusansky, president and CEO of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. It's spelled s t e v e n r o s a n s k y. We're a business membership organization with over 950 members. I'd like to express our support for the proposed merger between Cox and Charter.
Cox has been a high quality service provider here in Newport Beach for many decades. In addition, I'd like to note that Cox is a strong supporter of the chamber's programs and has been a member of the chamber for fifty four years. With regard to the merger, I would like to note that the combination of Cox and Charter should result in economies of scale that hopefully will result in keeping the cost of their services offered to the public competitive with other local service providers. The merger should also result in better pay and benefits to current and future Cox employees. Once again, I encourage you to support the proposed merger between Cox and Charter.
Thank you.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comment. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Ulysses Zadarin with Tech Exchange. Your line is open.
Speaker 40
Thank you. Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Ulysses Zadarin. I'm the Executive Director of Tech Exchange. A nonprofit with nearly thirty years of experience advancing digital equity, bridging the digital divide across the Bay Area.
Over the past three decades, Tech Exchange has refurbished and distributed over 250,000 devices communities in need, as well as connected thousands of residents to broadband devices, digital literacy training, serving low income households, seniors, immigrants, and students, the trusted community institutions. We also have our workforce initiative, Serve2STEM, which trains youth in IT, technical support and customer service, simultaneously supporting the distribution of devices in their served households, creating both immediate community impact and internal pathways into the technology sector. We have reviewed the Charter Cox application. We offer the following input for your consideration. We offer that Charter and Cox must be held to the same standards as previous ISP consolidations and commit to public benefits that are appropriate, fair and comparable to those.
On deployment, we urge them to be concrete and significant commitments to expand broadband access to rural, remote and tribal communities, as well as historically underserved low income communities throughout the state. Moreover, the charter must offer affordable service for at least five years, including participation in the CPUC home broadband lifeline pilot and remove the requirement that households suspend their market rate service for thirty days before enrolling. This practice is coercive as several other callers have mentioned. Call center staff must also be trained to assist and not upsell low income customers as far as that we have seen firsthand here at Ticket Change. On the adoption front, deployment without adoption is not equity.
As Gartner and Cox serve the majority of low income households in California, including 66% of those previously eligible for the affordable connectivity program. Investments must support digital literacy training, device access, as well as device refurbishment to support organizations and nonprofit refurbishers like tech exchange and community based digital navigation to reach unconnected, under connected and unsustainably connected households. Lastly, and more so importantly, we are very grateful to the years of leadership and support CTF has brought to bridge the digital divide across the state and empower our communities. We trust CTF and continuing to lead these efforts transparently and fully support CTF's role in driving digital divide, driving digital equity across California, excuse me. We ask that the commission to ensure that this transaction advances deployment, affordability and adoption together And that Charter and Cox fully commit to supporting California's unconnected and underserved communities.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, to our next speaker please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Kane Nicholas with Able Consulting LLC. Your line is open.
Speaker 18
Thank you. Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Kane Nicholas, k a I n e n I c h o l a s, and I am an economic activist and owner of Able Consulting and a member of the Regional Black Chamber of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley. I'm calling in support of the proposed merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications provided that it delivers measurable and enforceable public benefit. Broadband is simply a is not, excuse me, not simply a utility.
It is an economic infrastructure, and it determines who can compete, who can scale, and who can fully participate in California's economy. Black owned businesses and underserved communities' connectivity gaps excuse me. Sorry. Connect connectivity gaps directly impact revenue generation, access to capital, digital commerce, and long term wealth building. If this merger accelerates infrastructure modernization, strengthens service reliability, and expands affordable high speed broadband access, particularly in historically underserved communities, it has the potential to drive meaningful economic inclusion.
However, approval should be conditioned on clear commitments around affordability, small business support, supplier diversity, workforce development, and community reinvestment. I respectfully urge the commission to ensure that this transaction produces measurable economic inclusion alongside operational efficiency. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker comes from Ada Castaneda with National City Res she's a National City resident. Thank you. Your line is open.
Speaker 3
Thank you, Commissioners. My name is Aida Castaneda, a I d a, last name c a s t a n e d a. And I'm a Cox customer in support of this deal. I work from home, so I need a reliable and fast Wi Fi. As a Cox customer, I'm excited about the opportunity to have access to Charter products.
I know them from reliable services, clear pricing, and no contracts. I also know that they have a highly respected and responsive US based customer service team. They also have Spanish speaking representatives. For members of my community, this is a huge advantage and means that our communities will actually get our questions and concerns addressed with ease. This deal seems like a win for our consumers and current Cox customers.
I hope the PUC can approve it today. Thank you so very much.
Speaker 41
Hi. Sorry. One moment. My connection. Hello, commissioners.
Good afternoon. I'm a Spectrum customer
Speaker 41
In support yes. I'm in I'm a Spectrum customer in support of this transaction. And as a Spectrum customer, I've always had reliable and fast Internet. And this transaction, I believe, can deliver back to even more Californians. And in addition, pricing is affordable and holds potential to lower rates with increased competition.
There's no overlap between Cox and Charter service areas, meaning that if this deal is approved, no choices are eliminated. Instead, a combined company will have more investment to keep pushing higher speeds and forcing other providers to improve and lower prices. I believe this deal has the potential to reduce costs and bring better service to a lot of Californians. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Andy Conley with West Business Alliance. Your line is open.
Speaker 42
Good afternoon. My name is Andy Conley, a n d y. Last name, c o n l I. And I am the president and CEO of the Westin Turret County Business Alliance. We are the chamber of commerce serving the cities of Camarillo, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme.
The WBCBA is the voice for the interest of business with government. We promote economic development. We work to improve the regional economy and protect the business interest of the communities. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to express my support for the Charter Cox transaction. We often hear concerns from our members about the challenges of operating and managing a small business.
Facing rising costs, our members need affordable broadband and Internet to run their businesses from advertising new products to liaisoning with customers to connecting with opportunities. We support this proposal because of the tangible benefits it will bring to our members, including lower prices, better service, and more consumer choice. Because Charter and Cox don't operate in the same service area, this deal won't eliminate a competitor. Instead, the joint company will be able to offer lower prices and better quality service, driving competition and making the entire market better for our members and customers and consumers in general. For these reasons, we hope that the Commission can efficiently move forward with this approval.
Thank you again for your time.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Jason Pauwu with Asian Business Association. Your line is open.
Speaker 43
Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Jason Pagiu, j a s o n p a g u I o. I serve as the president and CEO of the Asian Business Association serving at Dunham County. Thank you for the opportunity to voice our support for this proposed combination. The Asian Business Association of San Diego or ABA is among the region's largest ethnic business associations, representing more than 30,000 Asian Pacific Islander owned businesses throughout our region.
Our communities businesses employ nearly 90,000 people and contribute more than $5,000,000,000 in economic impact to Seneca County. ABA aspires aspires to to an inclusive economy that works for everyone, affordable and connectivity is essential to achieving this outcome. Combining Cox and Charter will result in more consumer benefits, including increased options and savings for existing Cox customers. Cox helps API owned businesses get access to low cost, high speed Internet to power small business growth. The new company's combined efforts will include increased network investment for future demand for capacity, more value and choice in video, including access to streaming apps, more affordable mobile service that can be bundled with Internet and video, delivering greater value, and no contracts and no early termination fees customers.
Reliable high speed Internet and mobile access is key to sustaining our local and an inclusive economy, and this partnership will help secure that future. Thank you for your time and consideration for our support. Thank you.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, for our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Lucy Ku on behalf of Evan Lowe. Your line is open.
Speaker 44
Hello. My name is Lucy Ku speaking on behalf of former assembly member Evan Lowe. The following statement is is from mister Lowe. My name is Evan Lowe, and I am a former assembly member representing the 26th Assembly District. I served on the Communications and Conveyance Committee and the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee.
Cox and Charter have been a longtime supporters of the work we do to ensure fair and equal representation for LGBTQ plus individuals at all levels of government, and I saw that firsthand as the former chair of the LGBT legislative caucus. I support the merger of Charter and Cox because it will help deliver benefits for families, workers, and businesses across California and the country by expanding consumer choice, lowering costs, and creating a stronger competitor in the broadband and communications marketplace. Cox customers will gain access to Charter's customer first service model, including no annual contracts, credits for service interruptions, and options to switch to Charter's offerings with savings of hundreds or even more than $1,000 per year. In addition, Charter's commitment to a 100% US based customer service workforce ensures consumers will receive timely, reliable support, including same day technician dispatch for service issues. We believe that a combined Cox and Charter will enable them to expand their reach to more customers, ensure better value, and continue their ability to support and uplift all communities.
Thank you for your time and consideration of our support.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. At this time, I'm not showing any further speakers. But if you would like to make a comment, please press star one.
Speaker 2
Okay. Well, thank you very much for that. We're just going to wait just another minute to see if we get anybody to call. Remember, if you'd like to make a comment, please call us +1 (800) 857-1917. Enter the passcode 1673482Pound, and then press star 1 and give your name and city to the operator, and you get placed in the queue.
Additionally, if you don't wanna make a public comment right now and you wanna leave us a public comment on the docket card, you can get in touch with our public adviser at www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph for information on how to leave a written comment on the docket card. All right, operator, it's 03:45 p. M. Are there any other speakers on the line to make a comment?
Speaker 1
We do. We have a comment from Patrick Messick with Eastbay. Your line is open.
Speaker 45
Good afternoon, commissioners. My name is Patrick Messick, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Eastbay Broadband Consortium. We've read the application. We've listened to the testimony. And so far, what we've heard is a familiar story.
Bigger consolidated company, better outcomes, more efficiency, more investment, maybe even lower prices. With respect, that's not how consolidation has played out in broadband markets. If size alone delivered affordability, California would already have the cheapest Internet in the country. Instead, millions of households faced high post promotion rates, escalating bills, and little leverage to negotiate. In most Charter Cox territories, there is no meaningful competition, just geographic non overlap that functions like a gentleman's agreement not to compete.
We are told this merger will increase investment, but there's no structural requirement to this application tying approval to specific enforceable deployment benchmarks beyond what the company already does in their normal course of business. We are told consumer protections will improve, but unless those protections are codified, enforceable, and long term, not three year conditions that quietly expire, they're not protections. They're talking points. Let's be candid. The commission is very likely to approve this transaction.
The question is not whether consolidation happens. The question is, what does California get in return? At a minimum, approval must include a binding affordability guarantee at least five years indexed to inflation with automatic enrollment for low income households, not protracted means tested invasive enrollment processes. Elimination of economic coercion practices, including any requirement as is currently in place that households disconnect service for thirty days before qualifying for affordability tiers, concrete infrastructure build out commitments, especially in high cost and underserved census tracts with measurable milestones and penalties for noncompliance, a significant digital equity investment fund scaled to today's dollars and commensurate with the market power being consolidated, and ongoing rate transparency reporting to the commission so pricing trends are visible and enforceable. California has improved telecom mergers before.
We were promised efficiencies before. We were promised community benefits before. The burden should not be on the communities to trust that this time will be different. The burden should be on the applicants to prove it in writing with enforceable teeth. If affordability is the goal, it must be guaranteed, not assumed.
If competition is limited, regulation must be stronger, not weaker. Thank you.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, are there anyone else who wanted to make a comment on the line?
Speaker 1
Yes. We do have a few more speakers. Shanna Price with Ecom Inc. Your line is open.
Speaker 46
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity. My name is Shanna Price. That's s h a n n a p r I c e. Our company is a 100% US based and a US owned disabled and family operated company located in the in Los Angeles County.
We are a telecommunications installation and maintenance company for Charter Communications. As the owner of DCOM, my significant other, we support the Charter Cox merger. Having been through a previous merger with Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable, I personally know it will bring better efficiency and innovation for businesses like ours. We create more jobs with better competitive wages and provide ample opportunity for growth when these mergers take place. These enhancements will provide greater job security, training, and financial growth for our employees.
Please approve it without delay, and we look forward to helping keep our economy and, most importantly, our employees' opportunities moving forward. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 2
Thank you so much for your comments. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next speaker is Mark Carroll with Breathe Southern California. Your line is open.
Speaker 47
Thank you. Hello, Commissioners. My name is Mark Carroll, M A R C C A R R E L, and I am the President and CEO of the oldest public health organization in Southern California, Breathe Southern California. We're a Los Angeles based environmental health nonprofit that promotes clean air and lung health through education, advocacy, research, technology, community engagement, and patient services. We work to clean our air and to reduce lung disease, the diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, COPD throughout Southern California from Santa Barbara to San Diego.
Respiratory health is directly connected to our environment and specifically exposure to air pollution and the impacts of climate change. We support the merger of Cox Communications to Charter for several reasons. First, reliable broadband services have proven to be incredibly important for at home telehealth services, particularly in areas without sufficient in person healthcare services. These help people access their healthcare no matter where they are or how far they are from their provider. Reliable broadband services benefit patients, and planned infrastructure and technology upgrades by the merged company will increase reliable broadband that will enable more reliable telehealth connectivity.
Second, by merging these two large companies, there'll be economies of scale. The merged company is planning to consolidate a number of their operations, thereby reducing the number of cloud servers that allow them to serve their customers with on demand services. So the amount of carbon emissions they currently generate as two separate companies would be reduced upon the merger into one company. Third, as broadband Internet has become a cornerstone for daily life, it has resulted in virtual meetings significantly reducing the number of car trips, thereby reducing air pollution and climate emissions and improving public health. The combined company's commitment to infrastructure improvements will likely increase these benefits.
Lastly, both Cox and Charter whose service areas do not overlap have been strong supporters and partners of community organizations like ourselves throughout the region. We provide services to eight counties in Southern California and see this firsthand. We look forward to continuing a partnership with the Merge Company going forward. For these reasons, we are happy to support the Charter Cox merger. Thank you very much for the opportunity to comment.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 20
I'm here as a Charter customer to support the Charter Cox trans transaction. My experience as a Charter customer gives me confidence that this merger will benefit consumers. One thing I really appreciate is that Charter has been upfront about pricing with no hidden fees, no data caps, and no contracts. This type of transparency shows me that Charter isn't trying to trick me into paying more. Instead, each monthly bill clearly details the pricing, the plan, and explains each fee.
Overall, this transaction will expand these services to more residents of California, which in my view as a as a member of the Pasadena community is is a positive thing for California. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I believe this merger will benefit customers and encourage the approval. Thank you.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, to our next caller, please.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Our next caller is Arturo Juarez with NextGen California. Your line is open.
Speaker 48
Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Arturo Juarez, and I'm calling on behalf of NextGen Gen California, a statewide policy and advocacy organization working to advance the interests of working class, low income, historically marginalized, urban and rural communities all throughout our Golden State. I struggle to find in the lead up to this common period, I struggle to find an objective and evidence based example of when the massive and continued consolidation of the broadband industry led to lower prices, better service or more high paying jobs for working class families, more affordable plans, better consumer protections. Despite the lofty statements of those in support of this merger, the consolidation of these two companies not only goes against basic market competition principles, healthy and robust high paying job creation dynamics, and incentives to deploy reliable service and uphold strong consumer protection standards, but it chokes the state of the opportunity to foster an environment of healthy innovation, investment, competition.
Not only is this proposed merger not in the interest of any California communities, the purported benefits being repeated here are so unoriginal as to be safely recognized as the same recycled masquerade we have been sold every time such a merger has been considered. And yet we see the exact opposite of these assertions by those in support of this merger, make play out, and that these mergers lead to higher prices, worse quality service standards, less high quality paying jobs, and worse consumer protections. This merger represents a real opportunity for the continued deterioration of elements that produce more innovation, lower prices, more competition, better paying jobs, stronger consumer protections, and incentives to scale network infrastructure investments or even dedicate more capital investments towards the updating of existing networks. In a year when the state experienced negative job growth for the first time since 2020, it is antithetical to think the continued market consolidation of this already highly concentrated industry would lead to better paying jobs or for that matter, lower prices or better quality service standards. There is a reason why there is ubiquitous, almost universal ubiquitous contempt, dislike, or hate among California consumers or their respective ISP.
If the commission cares about universal access, near universal adoption rates, job growth, economic growth, reliable connections, and stronger consumer protections that include firm lanes of restitution and recourse, then this merger should not go through without sizable, specific, enforceable consumer based safeguards and benefits. Again, this merger seems to be in direct conflict with basic market realities as well as common sense incentives to produce better, more affordable, and reliable service products and consumer protections for consumers. Thank you
Speaker 1
Your honor, there are no more speakers on the public comment telephone line.
Speaker 2
Okay. We are going to just do one more call for speakers. Again, the number, if you want to make your call and your make your comment, is +1 (800) 857-1917. Enter the code 1673482Pound. I'll do that more slowly.
The code is 1673482Pound, and then press star 1. Then the operator will ask you for your name, and you'll get put in the queue. And, again, you can leave us comments on the docket card. Go to the website, www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph. We are definitely in the throes of the public comment for the merger of Charter and Cox, which is proceeding number A2507016.
And I'm gonna ask operator one last time. Operator, is there anyone on the line that is here to make a public comment?
Speaker 49
David Manzo. David, d a v I d m a n z o. I am the principal at Gage Middle School. I've read the Charter Cox application for the CPUC and have the following input for consideration by the commission. Charter Cox Charter and Cox should be held to the same standards as all previous corporate consolidations involving Internet service providers to to confits that are appropriate, fair, and comparable to previous transactions.
The the public benefits must include deployment, helping each helping reach rural and remote communities, including tribal lands, affordable Internet service, pricing for low income households, providing Internet service offers for at least, five years, including participation in the CPUC home broadband lifeline pilot project. In addition, Charter must drop its requirements that low income eligible households must suspend their market rate service for thirty days before being able to sign up for affordable Internet service for which they are eligible. This is a economic, coercion for their charter, call center personnel need to be trained to assist low income households and to upsell them. Adoption. Invest in appropriate amount of amount to get unconnected, underconnected, and unsustainable connected households online and trained in digital literacy.
Charter and Cox services service areas include the majority of low income households in California, including 66 of all households who are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, ACP. They must commit. They they cannot escape doing their part to close a digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and achieve digital equity. When Charter acquired Time Warner Cable in 2016, Charter committed to 32,500,000 for the California Emerging Technology Fund. Core mission and digital inclusion, the California Emerging Technology Fund allocated 10,000,000 to CBOs for adoption and 10,000,000 to school to home, which directly benefited low income residents and sustained amazing transformation for our schools.
We are great we are grateful to Charter for that investment and urge Charter to make comparable commitment in today's dollars. We trust CETF would work to work with us in a fair and transparent partnership. Thank you.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator? There any other folks on the line who would like to make a Yes,
Speaker 3
Okay. Hello, my name is Hannah Amaya, that's spelled H A N N A, Amaya, a m a y a. I'm from West Carolina, and I wanted to speak about the positive experiences I've had as a Spectrum customer, especially as a college student who takes hybrid courses. I needed I need reliable and fast Internet to ensure that I can watch my lectures, go to office hours, and just participate in group discussions without buffering or any connection loss that I've experienced with other companies. And Spectrum has I've never had that problem with Spectrum.
I've always found my service to be extremely reliable as well as affordable. I value the fact that Spectrum doesn't have any data caps, so I never have to worry about my usage. Reports show that Spectrum exceeds their advertised speeds even during peak usage hours, and this has been my experience as well. And thank you so much for the opportunity to speak. I encourage the PUC to approve this deal.
Speaker 2
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, is there anyone else who'd like to speak on the line?
Speaker 2
All right. We've done a couple of additional calls for speakers. It is 04:02 p. M. I want to say thank you to everybody who has worked very hard to put this public participation hearing together and all of our public participation hearings together, from all of our members of our staff, for public advisors, to our hearing officers, to our court reporters.
I'm so pleased that Commissioner Baker's office has been so engaged in this process. We talked about our public advisors and all of the staff who are working behind the scenes to make this happen. Everybody in ALJ division and in communications division, and all the folks who are coming together to work on this particular case. It is a significant project that could impact a significant number of people. And with that, I'm just going to say thank you one more time, double check that I've covered all of my bases, adjourn this proceeding.
Thank you very much, and we are off the record.
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