CPUC Hearing - 2026-02-25
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California Public Utilities Commission
Follow its sittingsSpeaker 5
Direct feedback, particularly on an acquisition by Charter Communications of this magnitude, is a critical component of the process. I will now return the microphone to Judge Ormond. Thank you very much.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much. Okay. I wanna thank mister Neil for being with us today and for participating and following along in this proceeding. And everyone who is calling in, please note that the commissioner reviews the transcript of public participation hearings and he is, as miss Neil said, extremely interested in hearing what everybody has to say. So, after getting started, I just want to let everyone know that if you're wanting to call in to provide public comment, the number is 1808571917, and enter passcode 1673482, pound.
Then, and this is very important, dial 1 into your phone. The operator will connect with you, and you will tell the operator your name and the city that you're from, and you'll be put into the speaker's queue. Okay. Now I would like to give a brief overview of the California Public Utilities Commission or the CPUC and what we do, and then we'll go over a little bit about the proceeding. The CPUC, we are a state agency that regulates privately owned utilities that provide essential services like electricity, gas, water, and some elements of telecommunications to the public in the state of California.
There are five commissioners. They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. The five commissioners make the decision on all of the cases before the commission by a vote, including this merger application that we are here to discuss today. As the assigned administrative law judge of this proceeding, that means I get to manage the proceeding schedule, and I evaluate all of the documents and information submitted into our record, including your input. And then I get to work with expert staff members in the commission's communication division, and together we get to come up with recommendations.
There are five parties who are interveners in this case, who are currently working on requesting and reviewing discovery and putting together their testimony to provide input in the evaluation of this case. The groups are in the process of writing and submitting documents, and we have a definite possibility of holding evidentiary hearings in April. The Public Advocate Office of the California Public Utilities Commission, or CAL Advocates, is one of the interested parties of this proceeding, and they are required to participate on behalf of the interest of customers or ratepayers. So, after we receive input from all the interested parties, as the ALJ, I will develop recommendations, again with the assistance of our expert communications division staff, and propose some final recommendations to Commissioner Baker. I get to write up what we call a proposed decision to be published in on the public record.
The proposed decision is made public and public comment can be made on the decision. And then based on what we receive in public comment, a final decision is prepared. The final decision gets put before the commissioners for a formal vote at a commission business meeting. Then the five commissioners get to decide whether to adopt the proposed decision or create their own decision to hold an alternate decision. We will see what happens.
We anticipate a decision to be issued before the statutory deadline for this case, which is the January 2027. This application is about, on one hand, a landline telephone company merging into another company. But additionally, this is about a big telecommunications company merging with another big telecommunications company and the services provided by the two companies. There are various lines of business, all coming under Singular's control. We have held public participation meetings in Los Angeles and in San Diego and virtually because we wanted to find out about the potential impacts on this merger, especially in Southern California.
We're doing this final public participation hearing virtually to make sure we get as much input from the public throughout the state as possible. The proposed transaction could affect customers who use Cox and Charter Communications companies with respect to their various services. According to Charter, the proposed transaction will generate significant economic benefits for California ratepayers. Charter states that it will be able to extend additional services and pricing options to many of Cox's current customers. Charter states their additional service offerings could include more choice and value in video service and higher quality of mobile service.
Charter also notes in their current 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 anti competitive risk, which could have negative impacts on customers and the services they provide. Another great concern is Charter's proposed benefits they may not reach low income customers or customers from disadvantaged parts of the state. To get a better understanding about how the public feels about this transaction, we are here to obtain public comment. To assist us in getting feedback or looking for commenters to let us know how you feel about your telecommunications providers, Charter and Cox.
For example, a recent study published by one of the parties for this proceeding showed that Charter's pricing plans are different depending on whether there is competition in a geographic market. One thing we'd like to know is whether the situation still exists. We're about to turn to public comments, so I'm going to review the phone number for you. Once again, if you want to speak in our public comment portion of the public participation hearing, please call us. We're at 5017 and enter passcode 167300482Pound.
Then you must press star one on your phone to connect with the operator who will take your name and city when prompted. If you're a public official, please state your title and position in addition to your name. Our court reporters are transcribing everything that is said in today's hearing. And the reporters have a difficult job. So when it's your time to speak, we ask that you speak very slowly and clearly so that the court reporter can capture everything you say.
And please remember, if you are reading something, we have a propensity to speak a little bit more quickly, so I'm just going to ask, and I'll ask a few times throughout today's hearing, please speak slowly. Thank you. So to ensure we have an accurate record, it might be necessary for our court reporter or me to ask the speaker to slow down and repeat yourself, repeat themselves if something is not understandable. When you begin speaking, please state and spell your name, and importantly, let us know what city you're calling from. You can decide any time before the end of the hearing today that you wanna speak.
Just press star one on your phone. Each speaker, you get approximately three minutes to speak. If you go much longer than that, a time will sound. We will be able to hear you most clearly if you speak into your phone or headset, and it is best not to use speakerphone. It's important to mention that this is not the time or place to ask questions about your individual bills and services.
If you have your questions about your individual bills or your service, I encourage you to contact Charter or Cox, and they have customer service information which will be displayed at some point on a slide in the hearing. And also the CPC's customer affairs branch, we call them TAB, you can call us at 497570 to discuss any of your billing issues. We would love to help you. So, not the time to talk about your individual bills. Charter and Cox have customer service folks available on a separate line, and the representatives are able to answer your questions, and they're going to remain available for at least an hour after the conclusion of this call.
Again, and additionally, please don't tell us your individual phone number or your address because this proceeding is open to the public and being recorded. You might hear that and think that you no longer want to speak at today's public participation hearing, but you still want to give us comments on this proceeding and we still want to hear from you. So you can definitely submit written comments on the docket card and you can reach out to our public advisor's office for more information on how to do that. I encourage you to check out our website, which is www.cpuc.ca.gov/pph. Also, it's important to note we're not going be answering questions about the proceeding of today's hearing.
We are here to listen to your comments and provide information. Okay. Last time with our phone number. We would like to speak. We wanna hear from you.
So please call us at 1808571917 and enter the passcode 1673482Pound. Then, and this is important, press star one on your phone and the operator will connect with you. You're gonna share with the operator your name and the city that you're coming from and if you're an elected official, and then you're gonna get put into the speaking queue. Please speak slowly and clearly, and don't forget. Please state and spell your name.
We have made it to the public comment portion of the hearing. I'm going to now turn to the operator. Operator, would you please open the phone line and let us hear the first caller?
Speaker 2
Thank you. The public comment telephone line is now open. Our first caller is Isabelle Solis, an elected official. You may go ahead.
Speaker 6
Isabel, ISABEL, Solis, S O L I S. I'm calling from Broward, California. Good evening. My name is Isabel Solis. I'm speaking on behalf of Los Amigos de la Cumulidad Incorporated, a nonprofit serving underserved family families throughout the Imperial County.
I am also a thirty two year public teacher public school teacher and a board of trustee for Imperial Valley College. Our workplaces us in direct contact with families whose children attend elementary schools, high schools, and community colleges across the region. From this perspective, we can state clearly, loss of Internet access directly harms students' educational outcomes at every level. For elementary school students, Internet access is no longer optional. Teachers routinely assign digital homework, reading programs, and parent teacher communication through online platforms.
When families in communities like Calexico, Heber, and Nylon lose service, even temporarily, students fall behind immediately. Parents tell us their children are mocked are marked incomplete or absent from assignments not because of effort, but because the household had no connectivity. For high school students, the impact is even more severe. Internet loss affects completion of assignments and exams hosted online, access to college and financial aid applications, communication with teachers, counselors, and tutoring programs. We have seen students rely on phones late at night, sit outside libraries, or fast food restaurants for Wi Fi, or simply missed deadlines.
These students are then labeled unmotivated when the real barrier is lack of affordable, stable broadband. At the community college level, including students attending Imperial Valley College, Internet access is foundational. Coursework, registration, Canvas platforms, financial aid, and even basic communication with professors requires reliable service. When students lose Internet because they are forced to cancel service for thirty days to qualify for an affordable plan, they are effectively pushed out of their classes, sometimes permanently. This is alarming when currently 50% of courses are online in community colleges and universities across the state.
This is why Charter's policy requiring low income households to suspend service before enrolling in affordable Internet is so damaging in our region. For students, a thirty day gap is not a pause. It is a setback that act with academic consequences. We have also assisted families who contacted Charter seeking affordable service only to be upsold to higher cost plans, discouraged from applying, or even incorrect information. These practices disproportionately harm students in low income and Spanish speaking households and directly interfere with educational access.
In the Imperial Valley, broadband is educational infrastructure. Any merger must approve must any merger approval must include strong and forcible public benefits that protect students by ensuring continuous affordable service for low income households, no forced service gaps, meaningful deployment in rural and remote communities. Our students cannot succeed if connectivity is treated as optional. We urge the commission to center the educational impact on children and students when evaluating this transaction. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
Speaker 3
Thank you so much for your comments this evening. Operator, our next caller please.
Speaker 2
And our next caller is Martin Fuentes with the City of Cudahy. You may go ahead, sir.
Speaker 7
Thank you very much. My name is Martin Fuentes. I'm a council member in the city of Cudahy. I have been a resident of Cudahy for over forty years and now serve on the city council. I'm speaking in this capacity to support the merger of Charter Communications and Cox Communications.
Both companies have responsible reputation, no service overlap, and will be a stronger competition together. California is an expense expensive place to live, and saving money whenever possible is helpful to any family. As part of the merger, prices will go down for cost customers if they choose to move to a charter plan. Charter Charter Spectrum Internet Assist has been available for ten years this year and gives qualifying low income families high speed Internet access for as low as $15 a month. OpenSite, a third party analyst, has named Charter Spectrum Internet most reliable and more so than national providers like AT and T and T Mobile.
Their mobile their mobile service is the nation's fastest growing, and customers can combine mobile plans with their Internet and TV to save money. Lastly, the new Charter Cox will adopt the Charter's 100 US based workforce and bring cost overseas functions back to The US. That means that each time a customer reaches out via phone or chat, they will be connected with someone in The US and have access to bilingual representatives or someone to help customers with disabilities. This customer first value driven company culture is what makes this merger right. The CPUC should approve this transaction expeditiously and waste no time expanding customer benefits to more charter Cox customers.
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Chip Monaco with the Orange County Taxpayers Association. You may go ahead.
Speaker 8
Good evening, Your Honor and Commission staff. My name is Chip Monaco. I'm the Executive Director of the Orange County Taxpayers Association. The Orange County Taxpayers Association supports tax and rate supported programs that are fair, understandable, cost effective, and good for the economy. Our organization engages with local, state, and federal elected officials on government efficiency, along with residents and businesses on tax and rate policy, to establish a pathway to economic success for all.
OCTAX is in support of the merger between Charter and Cox Communications. Our region relies on future proof broadband, and with no overlap in the market, the Charter Cox combined company will have resources to continue improving network capacity and reliability without eliminating a competitor or any customers. Charter offers affordable prices compared to other large competitors with individual savings of up to $1,000 per year. The combined company will return Cox's overseas sales position in The U. S, creating 100% U.
S.-based employee workforce, which is great for the American economy. Charter has demonstrated a strong commitment to expanding high speed internet access, enhancing service reliability, and investing in local communities across California. The transaction presents an opportunity to further strengthen broadband infrastructure, support business continuity, ensure that taxpayers and ratepayers will benefit from cutting edge connectivity. From a regional perspective, economic perspective, a unified and modernized communication platform supports small business growth, innovation, workforce productivity, and are key pillars of the Orange County economy. It is important to note that access and affordability will only be attained by doing things different.
The status quo has failed in that area, and big ideas and mergers are essential to accomplish economic and access and affordability to all. Through our work in Orange County, we've seen how partners like Charter and COSS can make a difference in delivering tools and resources to the tax and ratepayers of our county. We respectfully request that the CPUC consider this merger and approve it of these two companies to continue serving the community for all of these reasons. I thank each of you for the time and wish you well.
Speaker 3
Thank you so much for your comments. Operator, if we could go to the next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Jonathan Gray with the Community Development YMCA. You may go ahead.
Speaker 9
Good evening, everyone. Jonathan, j o n a t h a n. Last name Gray, g r a y. And I'm definitely in favor of the consolidation between Cox and Charter. With Charter's, you know, great record of providing quality service here in the Long Beach area, a joint company would just be more beneficial because Cox and Charter are not competitors.
And I think that that could definitely help drive down costs for the consumers here in Long Beach. However, I do would like to say that I do appreciate Charter's investment on the public benefit side of things when they bought out Time Warner. I know that they spent and gave a good amount of money to the California Emerging Technology Fund, and that was able to help us give to families and provide digital literacy classes and digital and help close the digital divide really overall. Obviously, COVID really brought a lot to the forefront on why digital equity is important, and I think that Charter has a strong record of investing in the public benefit. And so I'm in favor of the merger, and I'm thinking that if they continue to make those investments in the public benefit, especially around making sure that the affordable rates are there for the $15 a month and, you know, really applying those programs to low income households that we serve at our YMCA, I think it's a win win for not only the residents of California, but for the communities all around Long Beach that we serve.
Thank you.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, if we can go to the next caller, please.
Speaker 4
Hi. My name is Yesenia Amaya, y e s e n I a a m a y a. Thank you for the opportunity to give my opinion. I am a Spectrum customer, and I am in full support of the Charter Cox Steel. I've been a Spectrum customer for about a decade now, and I have been very pleased with the quality of service and reliability.
With this deal, I believe that communities across the state will get access to Charter's great service and their affordable offer offers. For example, Spectrum Entertainment, they will be able to get streaming apps access for free, which would bring a savings of about $1,000 per year. I appreciate it seems like Charter is really considering the impact that this is gonna have on the community and on their customers. As far as I know, existing customers won't be forced to change their plans. It will be giving them they they're gonna have the ability and flexibility to ultimately keep their plans as is.
And so for that, I appreciate the decision that you know, and I am for this this deal. Thank you for the opportunity to share my opinion.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comment this evening. Operator, we can go to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 10
Hi. Good evening. My name is Grace Pontes, b r a c e p o n c e. I just am thankful for the opportunity to give my opinion. I'm a longtime customer of Spectrum, and I want to share, my support for this transaction.
I've been with Spectrum for years, and there are multiple reasons for my loyalty for this provider. First, reliability. I work from home, a couple days a week, and I need to be able to stay productive and connected regardless of whether I'm in the office or at home. Spectrum has been able to deliver this service. Second, I can bundle multiple things, under one plan, mobile, TV, Internet, and it can all be in one package.
So I appreciate, this for convenience and also because the prices are reasonable and, the terms are clear. Third, the customer service is available 20 fourseven and based in The US as a Spanish speaker. I also appreciate that they have Spanish speaking representatives. This makes getting help easier for members of my community, and so it's just very helpful all around. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, if we could go to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Christian Aguilar with the Charter Oak Unified School District. You may go ahead.
Speaker 11
Thank you. Hi. My name is Christian, spelled c r I s t I a n, Aguilar, a g u I l a r. I'm proud to have served on the Charter Oak Unified School District Board since 2020, currently in the role of board president. Charter Oak Unified, we're located in Eastern LA County, and we take a lot of pride in our students and our family community culture.
Keeping our student community connected require a lot of infrastructure that we can count on, reliable, affordable internet, and I believe the Charter Cox merger will help safeguard and improve these resources. This transaction can offer us the chance to expand these benefits to additional customers while increasing competition with wireless providers in the California market, which should lead to lower prices and better service. I'm also encouraged by Charter's approach to pricing. They have affordable plans, options for qualifying low income households. They have transparent terms and no contracts required.
So our families really appreciate their reliable service at prices that they can afford and these consumer friendly practices will definitely benefit our community. So I believe the merger can serve the public interest and hopefully see it approved at the July 26 meeting. Thank you.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, if you could go to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Drew Schlossberg with Classroom of the Future Foundation. You may go ahead.
Speaker 5
Classroom of Future Foundation, d r e w, last name s c h l o s b e r g. Been with the foundation since its inception in 1997, and we're in the heart of Cox service territory and we believe this merger will help advance our mission and continue to educate thousands of students in the San Diego area. Reliable internet is crucial and by combining resources Charter and Cox can expand broadband capacity and provide schools and educators with greater access to professional mentorship and support. The ability to scale operations also means more affordable price options, a win for families, educators, and schools. We are also thankful for Cox's years of investment in digital education initiatives for empowering teachers and students in all 43 of our school districts here in San Diego County with the necessary resources they need to thrive in today's classrooms.
We urge the Commission to approve this transaction and support the educators and the technology benefits they can provide to our community. Thank you for your time and consideration of our support.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments. Okay. Operator, we can go to our next speaker,
Speaker 10
Hi. My name is Monique Jackson, m o n I q u e j a c k s o n. I'm a Spectrum customer based in West Covina, and I support the Charter Cox deal. I currently work in education and understand the real impact that the digital divide has on our students, especially black and Latino students. Studies show that lack of high speed access to the Internet disproportionately impacts black, Latino, and Native American students.
This gap is particularly apparent for low income households. This results in students being unable to complete assignments, access remote classes, and have the same opportunities as their peers. With this context in mind, I support this transaction because I believe Charter is committed to ending the digital divide. From my experience, their prices are reasonable, transparent, and reliable, ranking as the most reliable provider in the country. They also have a $25 monthly plan for qualifying low income households, which can be bundled with free mobile for a year.
Expanding this access through More of California will help us end the digital divide and ensure all students have the connection they need to succeed. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, if we could have the next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Dustin Hoiseth with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce. You may go ahead.
Speaker 13
Hello. My name is Dustin Hoiseth, d u s t I n h o I s e t h. I am the director of economic development with the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce. Our service area is Southern Santa Barbara County, which is in Cox's service area. We support the proposed transaction between Charter Communications and Cox and encourage the commission to authorize this transaction in a timely manner so our communities can realize the benefits as soon as possible.
The South Coast Chamber alongside other community nonprofits has been focused on creating an equitable regional economy through increased opportunity for local youth. We greatly appreciate Cox's long standing support for organizations such as ours in the community. Much of this important work could not have happened without the support of COX, especially regarding digital literacy. We also appreciate the similar efforts Charter has made to assist other nonprofits in providing access to skills and resources for closing the digital divide. By aligning their resources with Cox, Charter has the opportunity to support further growth and investment in Santa Barbara County's youth.
The South Coast Chamber is also heavily focused on the success of our business members, many of whom rely upon Cox's essential business services. A combined charter Cox company would offer additional resources to local customers, including twenty four seven faster customer support based here in The US, which has been mentioned previously. This would make it easier for businesses and families to stay connected without interruption. We believe that a combined Charter Cox company will provide many economic benefits to our communities and expand the support of educational success and economic opportunity for students in Santa Barbara County. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comment. Operator, we can go to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Lindsey Skolnick with the California Alliance for Digital Equity. You may go ahead. Good evening. My name is
Speaker 10
Lindsey Skolnick. I'm the manager of the California Alliance for Digital Equity, or CADE, which is a coalition of local and state advocates focused on advancing all forms of digital equity. I'm here today to speak not only as a CADE representative, but also as a LA resident and charter customer. Like many other digital equity advocates, I know that much of what drives broadband prices here in California is set by the state's big five providers, Comcast, Charter, AT and T, Frontier, which is soon to be Verizon, and Cox. Should the Charter Cox merger advance, four companies will dominate the landscape, increasing the concentration of power over broadband pricing and service offerings.
This is concerning when you think about the real life implications reduced competition will have on everyday residents and charter customers that are already struggling to pay for various basic necessities. According to the Public Advocates Office, the most common internet service, 100 to 500 megabits per second over copper cable, already has an average monthly price of $116.68 in California. That is almost exactly how much I currently pay for my home Internet plan in an LA neighborhood where Charter is the only provider that offers wireline broadband service. Although it's an exorbitant cost, like many other residents, I feel I must pay for it, even as the price has gone up, because it's the only option that offers somewhat reliable, high Internet speeds in my area. And I work from home, so fast, reliable Internet access is key to keeping my business afloat.
Now I fear that with this market consolidation, Charter will be able to charge even higher fees for worse service with less accountability to con to customers. To avoid this potential outcome, it is absolutely critical that the CPUC comprehensively assesses if this merger is truly in the public interest. And if the COCPUC deems it is, the agency opts to require Charter to commit to high standards for quality service quality and affordability across its expanded territories. This can be done by prioritizing the build out of a robust consumer protection and enforcement policy that safeguards the interests of LA residents and other small business owners like myself. Today, my Internet service at home is far from perfect, but I certainly do not want to see service become even worse or less affordable should this merger go through.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments this evening. Operator, if we can go to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Susie Lance with the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce. You may go ahead.
Speaker 10
Good evening. My name is Susie Lance. It's spelled s u s I e, last name, l a n t z. And I represent the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce. As a Chamber of Commerce, our mission and goals depend on reliable infrastructure and a skilled workforce that allows for responsible investment.
We support the proposed transfer of Cox California to Charter Communications, and we urge the CPUC to vote to approve. Cox has been a valued business partner for our chamber, and we have experienced how partners like them can positively support education and workforce development in our community. 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 that they are committed to furthering that vision through this proposed merger. Thank you so much for your time and your consideration.
Have a good evening.
Speaker 3
Thank you for your comments. Operator, if you could please call on the next speaker.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Sheena Foreman with the Living Coast Discovery Center. You may go ahead.
Speaker 14
-Good evening. My name is Shaina, S H A Y N A. Last name Foreman, F O R E M A N. I'm the Interim Executive Director for the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista. The Living Coast Discovery Center is a nonprofit zoo and aquarium located on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Founded in 1987 as the Chula Vista Nature Interpretive Center, we have served the San Diego community for over thirty five years. On average, we see 70,000 visitors each year, 25,000 of which are TK through 12 students. We support the proposed transaction between Charter Communications and Cox because having reliable and affordable Internet is a key part of our business. Cox, which provides services in our area, has been a generous supporter of the Living Coast, including a recent donation to our Living Lab field trip program. With Cox's support, six forty students in grades K-twelve will explore coastal habitats, wildlife, and ecosystems through hands on science activities in one of San Diego's rare tideland environments.
Providing connectivity to homes and businesses is the core of the Cox business, but they are much more to our community. We look forward to working with them in the new combined company. Thank you for your time and consideration of our support.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comment this evening. Operator, if we can go to our next speaker, please.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Erica Terasas with Partners in Education. You may go ahead.
Speaker 15
calling from Santa Barbara. My name is Erica Terrazas, and I work with Partners in Education. We're a local nonprofit in Santa Barbara County, and one of our program provides families with devices, digital literacy classes, online safety training, and access to low cost Internet. Partners in Education is in support of the proposed transaction between Charter Communications and Cox. We appreciate Cox's long standing support for organizations such as ours in the community and appreciate the similar efforts that Charter, has made to assist other nonprofits in providing access to skills and resources for closing the digital divide.
By aligning these re resources with Cox, Charter has the opportunity to support the further growth and investments in Santa Barbara's use. Offering the twenty four seven faster customer support will definitely make it easier for our families and our students to stay connected without any interruptions. We believe that this combined chart Charter and Cox company will provide many benefits to our community and will help ensure educational success of our students here in Santa Barbara County. I appreciate the time and consideration of this request of the support.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for your comments. Operator, if you would please call on our next speaker.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Natalie Gonzales with Digital Equity LA. You may go ahead. Good evening, commissioners.
Speaker 16
My name is Natalie Gonzales, n a t a l I e g o n z a l e z. And I'm here representing Digital Equity LA and an LA resident as well as a charter customer. Digital Equity LA is a coalition of community based organizations working across Los Angeles County to ensure broadband is reliable, accessible, and most importantly, We've heard that this merger will improve service quality in already competitive markets, that it will strengthen customer protections, and even that prices could go down. But both from an economic and community perspective, those claims do not align with the reality on the ground. If this was truly a competitive market, families would have meaningful options.
Instead, in many neighborhoods across LA County, households have one realistic high speed broadband provider. That limited competition shows up in real ways. Short term promotional rates followed by price increases, confusing billing practices, and little negotiation power once customers are locked in. When residents try to switch providers, they often discover that there is no comparable alternative. When competition decreases, pricing power increases.
If there are fewer ISPs serving a community, families have fewer alternatives and providers have less reason to lower their prices. Simply becoming larger and consolidating this power doesn't guarantee better outcomes for consumers and residents, especially in markets where competitive pressure is already limited in LA. We have also heard that this merger will include customer consumer protections and improved customer service. That question is whether those protections are structural and enforceable or temporary and attached to this merger approval. Many families have shared within our coalition that they have tried to cancel their plan and they've been transferred between multiple charter representatives and repeatedly pushed towards changing or up charging their subscription instead of being outright cancelled.
I would urge the Commission to listen closely to the communities who are living this every day and LA County families consistently tell us that charter spectrum plans are among the most expensive options available to them once the promotional rates expire. National pricing analysis, including reporting from the Open Technology Institute of New America and Consumer Reports, have shown that cable broadband providers, including Charter, often charge significantly higher standard rates than many comparable markets with stronger competition. Communities know this because we are paying the bills. They see the jump year after year, and they feel the lack of leverage when they try to negotiate. And that lived experience matters.
Nothing about this merger structurally guarantees affordability. Becoming larger does not automatically mean that prices will go down, especially when there's already limited competition. Without enforceable affordability standards and sustained oversight, consolidation alone of this merger does not protect families from rising costs. If affordability is truly the goal, then it must be guaranteed and not assumed. And we urge the Commission to evaluate this merger with that reality in mind.
Thank you.
Speaker 3
Thank you very much for that comment. Operator, if you would please call on our next speaker.
Speaker 17
-Hi. My name is Pedro Molina calling from oh, sorry. Pedro Molina, p e d r o. Last name is m o l I n a. Calling from Fontana, California, executive director, First Day Foundation.
Serving low income families across the Inland Empire. After reviewing the Cox the Charter and Cox application, I urge the commission to require public benefits that match standards set in prior ISP consolidations. Charter and Cox must commit to three three three things. Deployment, affordable service, and adoption. By deployment, real investments to reach rural, remote, and tribal communities.
Affordable service. Maintain low income Internet plans for for at least five years. Participate in the CPUC home broadband lifeline pilot, and in Charter's thirty day suspension requirements for eligible households, and ensure call center staff help families instead of upselling them. For for adoption, Fund digital literacy and connectivity programs so unconnected and underconnected households can get online and stay online. These companies serve most of California low income communities.
They must have closed a digital device. When Charter acquired Time Warner Cable, it committed 32,500,000.0 to the CETF for digital inclusion, including major investments in community organizations and school to home. That commitment delivered real results for low income families. A comparable inflation adjusted invest investment is appropriate today, CETF remains a trusted partner to manage it. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Speaker 2
Our next caller is Pastor Oliver E. Bowie with the National Action Network. You may go ahead.
Speaker 18
Good evening. My name is Pastor Oliver Bowie, President of the National Action Network LAX Chapter. Thank you for the opportunity to comment in support of the Charter Cox merger. The National Action Network of LA supports the people of Los Angeles by providing education on local rights, mentoring youth supporting local businesses, and confronting civil and human rights violations. We advocate for youth empowerment, climate change, Internet access for all, and economic development.
While this proceeding matters to our organization, Chartered is helping bridge the digital divide and help communities achieve equity through programs like the Spectrum Education Grant, which supports organizations who work to bridge the digital divide. Spectrum Community Center assists helps improve community centers and charter footprint with job training, critical improvement, and broadband connectivity. Both Charter and Cox are devoted to providing low cost Internet to families and individuals. Cox Protection Community Center helps improve community centers and charter footprint with job training, physical improvement, and broadband connectivity. Both Charter and Cox are devoted to providing low cost internet to families and individuals.
Cox Connect Assist program offers low internet access to families enrolled in at least one government assistance program. Spectrum Internet Assist delivers high speed internet for qualifying low income families as low as 15 per month. We are excited to see how the combined company continues to align with our internet access for all initiatives. This transaction brings together two companies that have a track record of positive impact in the communities they serve and with no overlap. They can continue this work as a combined entity.
And LAX urges the CTUC to quickly approve this bill. We cannot keep California waiting on these benefits. Thank you for your time, and have a wonderful evening.
Speaker 12
Good evening, honorable members of the Commission. My name is Nicholas Adcock, President and CEO for the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. My name is spelled N I C H O L I S, last name is A D C O C K. On behalf of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce representing more than 1,100 business and member organizations and approximately 110,000 jobs, I'm calling in to express our support for the proposed transaction between Cox Enterprises and Charter Communications. Our chamber is committed to fostering economic growth, supporting business innovation and ensuring equitable access to the tools that drive success in today's digital economy.
Reliable broadband me, reliable broadband access is not just a business necessity. It is the foundation for workforce development, education and community advancement across California. Charter Communications has been a valued partner in Riverside and throughout the state investing significantly in broadband infrastructure and several other initiatives. Through programs that connect small businesses, expand high speed Internet access and promote digital education, Charter continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to customers and communities alike. The company's focus on service reliability and customer satisfaction, including maintaining U.
S.-based call centers, providing credits for outages exceeding two hours and offering same day technician dispatch underscores its dedication to delivering dependable service Californians can trust. The proposed transaction will preserve a strong and competitive marketplace as consumers continue to have access to a wide range of choices across mobile, Internet and video services from other providers and streaming platforms. This transaction will expand broadband access, strengthen California's digital economy and ensure that equal opportunity remains within reach for all residents as the state advances toward the future of work and technology. That is exactly for the reason why that this chamber urges your favorable consideration of this transaction. Thank you.
Speaker 3
Okay. Well, thank you. Alright. So we're going to do one round of, if you'd like to make a comment. I'm going to just restate our phone number and give a little bit more information and then see if we get any last callers because we do wanna hear from everybody.
So if you have a comment that you'd like to make, please call us. We're at 1808571917, and enter the passcode 1673482Pound. And then if you wanna make a comment, please press 1, and the operator will connect with you. And you will share with the operator your name and the city where you are calling from, and the operator will put you into the speaking queue. Earlier, at the beginning of today's hearing, we talked about how public participants should not share their personal billing information or any questions that they have about their personal services that they have at their home or business.
But you can connect with the customer service representatives at Charter and Cox to discuss those issues, and they are available right now, for you to call them. They can be found Charter. You can talk to your Charter customer service folks at (844) 701-4096. And if you have Cox and you wanna talk to your Cox customer service representative, they can be found at (800) 234-3993. Obviously, if you really want to dig into your issues, we encourage you to call the public advisor's office here at the California Public Utilities Commission, and you can contact us at (866) 849-8390.
Our public advisor will point you in the right direction. We do have a fact sheet that's available about this proceeding and the transactions before us. The fact sheet and information this proceeding can be found at the following website: www.cpuc.ca.govcph. And we definitely welcome anybody who wants to make written comments on this proceeding. You can put them on our docket card online, and the way you do that is you either connect with our public advisor's office, you go to the website that I just shared, or there is an address at the top left, at the middle left on the slide, it's atps.ctuc.ca.gov/c/a25-seventhousandandsixteen.
This will be our last call on our final public participation hearing conference for the evening. If have a public comment that you'd like to make, we really do want to hear from you. Please call 857-1917, enter the passcode 1673482Pound, then press star one on your phone, connect with the operator, and you will share with the operator your name and the city that you're calling and to put you in the speaking queue. And when you wanna make your comments, please state and spell your name and speak slowly and clearly. This is gonna be our final call for public hearing.
Operator, do we have anyone we'd like to allow to speak now?
Speaker 3
All right. Well, we tried. This has been a really fantastic experience. I want to thank on the record all of the individuals who put a lot of time and effort into making these public participation hearings happen. Our public advisor, our IT professionals, our court reporters, thank you to our operator this evening.
Thank you to Commissioner Baker's office. I think that just about wraps it up. We look forward to receiving all the input from parties. We wanna thank all of the folks who came out both in person and virtually to provide public comments on the record. The transcripts are available on the dock card for the first three days of public participation hearings, and I am very sure that today's transcript will be published on the docket card in the very near future.
I'm sure within the next five business days at most. And it is 07:00. This is going to conclude this evening's public participation hearing for this proceeding. And we are adjourned and off the record. I want to thank everyone so much.
Speaker 2
And this concludes today's conference. Thank you for participating. You may disconnect at this time and have a great rest of your evening.
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