KALAMAZOO, Mich., Oct 28, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Charter Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:CHTR) celebrated today the installation earlier last quarter of its 1 millionth Charter Pipeline(R) high-speed Internet service customer, presenting a Kalamazoo, Mich. customer a new laptop computer and offering a local non-profit community center free cable modem service for a year.

Gary Mizga, Charter regional vice president of Operations for the Michigan Region, presented Lou Thrash of Kalamazoo, who signed up for Charter Pipeline in late August, with a new laptop computer. Charter also presented the Portage Community Outreach Center in Portage, Mich. with a certificate for a free year of Charter Pipeline service. The non-profit outreach center provides low- to moderate-income residents a variety of services, including emergency financial aid, tutoring and employment assistance, such as access to computers and the Internet.

The ceremony was attended by community leaders, Charter officials and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Kalamazoo, who also is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

"I've often said that the Internet is like our highway system -- those communities and businesses that are connected will grow and prosper more rapidly than those not connected," Mr. Upton said. "I commend Charter Communications for aggressively rolling out its high-speed cable modem service across Michigan. Plus, given the good work that non-profits do in our community, it's important to make sure they are connected, too."

Mr. Mizga said that Charter Pipeline is a service that is meeting the online needs of both residential and business customers. "It's very gratifying to see how customers are responding to the speed and convenience of broadband cable modem service," Mr. Mizga said. "We're thrilled that Kalamazoo was selected as the site for the 1 millionth modem customer recognition. Kalamazoo has been instrumental in launching modem service in Michigan. The service is an integral part of Charter's success in Kalamazoo and throughout Michigan."

Mr. Mizga said Kalamazoo, Mich. was selected as the site to mark the company milestone because of the rapid growth of Charter Pipeline service in the city and in Michigan.

Cable modem service first became available in Kalamazoo in February 2001. Today, nearly 13,000 Kalamazoo-area Charter customers, about 21 percent of all local customers, subscribe to Charter Pipeline service. In Michigan, more than 130,000 of Charter's 625,000 customers -- about one of every five customers -- are connected to the Internet via Charter Pipeline. That figure has nearly doubled from a year ago, when about 73,000 Michigan customers subscribed to Charter Pipeline.

Mr. Mizga said Charter's hybrid fiber-coax broadband network gives customers instant access to the Internet because the connection over cable is "always on." In addition, customers can select the level of service that best meets their needs: 256K, 768K or 1.54M. Charter Pipeline's speed allows customers to download graphic-rich content, including video and audio from the Internet, often in a matter of seconds. Since the customer's computer is connected to our network, no additional phone line is needed and the service doesn't affect or interfere with TV or telephone service.

About Charter Communications

Charter Communications, A Wired World Company(TM), is among the nation's largest broadband communications companies, currently serving more than 6.7 million customers in 40 states. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform marketed under the Charter Digital Cable(R) brand and high-speed Internet access via Charter Pipeline(R). Commercial high-speed data, video and Internet solutions are provided under the Charter Business Networks(TM) brand. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.

CONTACT: Charter Communications Inc.
Media:
Andy Morgan, 314/543-2217
amorgan@chartercom.com
or
Analysts:
Mary Jo Moehle, 314/543-2397
mmoehle@chartercom.com
www.charter.com