State regulator asks Spectrum to stop 'making patently false and misleading claims to consumers'

The New York State Department of Public Service is asking cable and internet provider Spectrum to stop ''making patently false and misleading claims to consumers" about its efforts to provide New Yorkers with critical broadband access.

In a letter sent to the Spectrum and Charter CEO Thomas Rutledge, Department CEO John B. Rhodes said that “the situation regarding Charter/Spectrum is getting more serious with each passing day."

Rhodes continued to add that "not only has the company failed to meet its obligations to build out its cable system as required, it is now making patently false and misleading claims to consumers that it has met those obligations without in any way acknowledging the findings of the Public Service Commission to the contrary."

Rhodes claims that the company knows that it is not "meeting its commitment to expand the company’s broadband network in New York to “pass” additional unserved and underserved residences and businesses."

A spokesperson for Spectrum told 7 Eyewitness News that the company has built a broadband network to more than 40,000 unserved and underserved homes since their merger with Charter. The spokesperson also adds that the company finds it "baffling that the [New York State Department of Public Service]  thinks that some New Yorkers count and others don’t, given their belief that access to broadband is essential for economic development and social equity."

New York took legal action against Spectrum Media for potential violations of its franchise agreement back in March.