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Technology Stocks : Charter Communications (CHTR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Carolyn who wrote (880)	12/1/1999 9:56:00 PM
From: Roger Sherman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2437

Another "brilliant" move by Paul Allen! IMHO, this "cable customer trade" move by Charter/Allen (with AT&T) shows a very small glimpse into the strategy to "acccelate" the launching of their "Broadband Partnership" plans. Very good news indeed. I don't know how tonight's "news" was slipped in before the "quiet period's" end next Monday, but I'm not complaining. We can all expect yet another new "acquisition" announcement from Charter before too long, perhaps moving Charter up to the "third" largest cable company in the country. Prior to the IPO, they have already indicated they intended to use some of the IPO funds for that purpose (as well as "upgrading" currently owned systems). The news article indicates that CHTR will be receiving an additional 72,000 more subscribers out to the trade deal (for an "undisclosed amount of cash"). But the real benefit is the economies of the "regional clusters" being created. The "cable pie" is being divided up, and CHTR will end up with an even larger piece of that pie before it's all over with. And then the real "broadband" party will slowly begin to unfold. The "good times" for those who got on this train early, are only just beginning! A few quotes from the AT&T / Charter cable systems "trade" news article this evening: "...Charter will take over the ownership of AT&T BIS cable systems serving approximately 704,000 customers..." "AT&T BIS will assume ownership of select Charter cable systems serving approximately 632,000 customers, and will receive an undisclosed amount of cash." "Charter's strategy for growth from the beginning has been to geographically cluster our cable systems to gain operating efficiencies and economies of scale," said Jerald L. Kent, president and CEO of Charter Communications. "Operating regional clusters. . . helps us accelerate technology at even greater speeds." "We are upgrading our cable infrastructure to offer customers digital cable television, high speed Internet and to build in the capacity for full broadband portal services." Roger #9