Charter Communications Inc. is rolling out an initiative to bring gigabit high-speed broadband access to more than 1 million unserved customer locations.
The Stamford-headquartered company was the project through the Federal Communications Commission”™s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. Charter is receiving $1.2 billion from the fund and is projecting a $5 billion budget for the project.
To accomplish this initiative, Charter plans to hire more than 2,000 employees and contractors. When completed, the initiative will span 24 states and create a 15% increase in the company’s network mileage coverage.
“As Americans across the country increasingly rely on broadband to work, learn, access health care and stay in touch with family and loved ones, bringing broadband access to more unserved areas should be a priority for all stakeholders,” said Tom Rutledge, chairman and CEO of Charter Communications.
He said he was optimistic that “federal, state and local authorities, other private companies, pole owners and broadband providers will work together and play a pivotal role in expanding networks to unserved areas.”
