Charter Communications
History
Charter Communications, Inc. was founded in 1993, and while the company has grown dramatically over the past two decades, our roots take us back to the pioneering days of cable. What began as mom-and-pop businesses in the late 1940s with cable strung from hilltop to homes has morphed into the advanced, high-tech cable industry that Charter is at the forefront of today.
With a network spanning more than 750,000 miles, Charter serves more than 30 million customers in 41 states through the Spectrum brand. Our vast infrastructure helps fuel innovation and delivers a robust offering of advanced services including faster broadband speeds, better video products, voice service, and a mobile offering to support customers on-the-go. Charter is a leading broadband connectivity company positioned to provide innovative services at a great value to meet customers connectivity needs today and into the future.

1940s
-1960s
First U.S. cable systems are founded

Newhouse begins operating cable systems with the purchase of its first system in Alabama, branding it NewChannels
1970s
Warner Communications forms Warner Cable

Newhouse forms second cable company, MetroVision, in partnership with former Cox executives
1980s
Newhouse adds Vision Cable to cable assets, to serve over 500K customers, and later becomes Bright House Networks
Time Warner Inc. forms through merger of Warner Communications and Time Inc., together serving more than 5.5 million subscribers
1990s
Warner Cable and American Television & Communications (ATC) combine to form Time Warner Cable
NY1 News Launches in New York City

Charter Communications, Inc. is founded in St. Louis. Acquisitions of cable systems across the country begin

Time Warner Entertainment and Advance/Newhouse form cable partnership
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen buys a controlling interest in Charter, which he kept until 2009
Charter begins trading publicly on the NASDAQ stock exchange under symbol CHTR

2000s
Charter earns a spot on Fortune 500
Advance/Newhouse begins operating Bright House Networks with approximately 2.2 million customers in Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana and Michigan

Time Warner Inc. spins off Time Warner Cable. Time Warner Cable begins trading publicly on the NYSE
Charter completes financial restructuring under chapter 11, emerging as a stronger company under new equity ownership
2010s
Thomas M. Rutledge is appointed President & CEO. Headquarters moves to Stamford, Conn
Charter debuts the Spectrum brand for products and services

Spectrum completes acquisition of Optimum West
Charter Launches Spectrum TV App on Roku Platform
Charter closes transactions with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks to become the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., serving more than 25 million customers

Charter launches Spectrum Internet Assist, a new standalone low-cost, high-speed broadband service.

Charter announced plan to make $25 billion investment in broadband infrastructure and technology over four years
McAllen, Texas Bilingual Call Center opens, as part of larger commitment to bring all offshore, overseas call center jobs back to the U.S.

Spectrum Completes All-Digital, upgrading the network across the footprint.
Spectrum Internet Gig Rollout is Completed

Spectrum Mobile launches
Spectrum Announces Plan to Launch Originals

Spectrum Housing Assist surpasses 25,000 homes improved

Spectrum Networks launches 24-hour news network in L.A., the company’s 26th local news channel.

Wifi 6 Router debuts. Spectrum becomes first U.S.-based broadband provider to introduce the next generation wireless standard, using 802.11ax technology which improves WiFi coverage in the home.
Spectrum TV App becomes available on Apple TV

Spectrum Mobile surpasses 1 million lines
Spectrum Enterprise Launches Managed SD-WAN Service nationally
Spectrum launches advanced in-home WiFi
2020s
Spectrum Mobile launches 5G service

Charter commits to raising its minimum wage for all hourly employees to $20 per hour over two years
Spectrum News launches its local news App to Spectrum residential customers including internet-only customers.

Charter surpasses 30 million customers milestone

