ALBANY, NY (WROC) — Charter Spectrum has reached a deal with New York that will keep the cable company in the state.

Last year, the state’s Public Service Commission sought to kick Spectrum out of New York and cancel its approval of the company merger with Time Warner after state officials said they failed to live up to the terms of the merger including service to rural areas.

In documents sent to RochesterFirst.com on Friday, Spectrum has agreed to take the following steps:

  • Charter will continue to invest in network expansion to bring high-speed broadband to tens of thousands of underserved residents and businesses in upstate New York
  • Spend $12 million from broadband expansion projects
  • Meet these expansion goals by the end of September 2021, while hitting frequent milestone requirements

Department of Public Service CEO John Rhodes issued the following statement:  

“Today the New York Department of Public Service (Department) jointly filed a proposed agreement with Charter Communications Inc. to resolve disputes over the network expansion conditions imposed by the Public Service Commission. This proposed agreement will now be issued for a 60-day public comment period and remains subject to review and final action by the Public Service Commission. Pursuant to the agreement, Charter would expand its network to provide high-speed broadband service to 145,000 residences and businesses entirely in Upstate New York; the network expansion would be completed by September 30, 2021 in accordance with a schedule providing frequent interim enforceable milestone requirements; and Charter will pay $12 million to expand broadband service to additional unserved and underserved premises. If approved by the Public Service Commission, the proposed agreement will allow the parties to move forward with the critical work of expanding access to broadband.”

Charter Spectrum issued the following statement: 

“Charter and the Department believe that this action is an important step forward in making high-speed broadband available to all New Yorkers.  It allows the parties to move forward with the critical work of expanding access to broadband, by resolving their disagreements without the need for costly litigation.  As a result, Charter will invest even more money in New York State than originally planned, bringing the educational, economic and social benefits of high-speed broadband to areas where access is often limited.”