- In spite of regulatory repeal of net neutrality rules, Charter (CHTR +0.7%) needs to face a lawsuit that charged it with providing slower Internet than promised, a New York state judge has ruled.
- Charter had sought to dismiss the suit brought by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, in which he alleged the company had misled and short-changed customers since 2012. Schneiderman said at least 640,000 subscribers got slower speeds than they signed up for, with 900,000 Time Warner Cable customers getting older-generation modems, and were denied access to promised online content including Netflix, Facebook, YouTube and more.
- An argument that federal regulations pre-empt the suit was rejected by the judge, who said the FCC itself noted its regulations co-exist with state laws protecting consumer rights.
- “The allegations in our lawsuit confirm what millions of New Yorkers have long suspected: Charter-Spectrum has been ripping you off,” Schneiderman said in response.