LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- General Instrument Corporation (NYSE: GIC) announced today that Charter Communications (Nasdaq: CHTR) has selected GI to supply GI's next-generation SURFboard® SB3100 modem, which Charter plans to deploy in select systems.

``We see a good fit for GI's SB3100 architecture and our needs at this time,'' said John Pietri, Senior Vice President, Engineering for Charter Communications. ``With GI's SB3100, we know we will be able to offer our customers a high-quality online experience - with the highest speeds and most advanced services available.''

The next-generation SB3100 cable modem is DOCSIS 1.1-based, which calls for advanced Quality of Service (QoS) and Internet Protocol (IP) filtering functions. QoS enables operators to guarantee - and therefore charge increased rates for - higher-speed Internet access to targeted businesses or homes demanding it. It also enables the prioritization of voice calls to support real-time Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which eliminates the delay found in earlier voice over IP technologies.

The SURFboard® SB3100 received CableLabs® Certification(TM) on December 9, 1999, signifying that the modem has completed an extensive series of interoperability tests and is recognized as compliant with Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 1.0-based headends and operation support systems (OSS) equipment. This acknowledgement follows the modem's September 1999 Excite@Home Level 2 approval. Demonstrations of the SB3100 modem are available at GI's Booth #1401, December 14-17, at this year's Western Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

``GI's selection by Charter Communications, one of the nation's largest cable operators, is a true testament to the technology, performance, and reliability of our SURFboard modem,'' said John Burke, Vice President-Marketing of Advanced Network and Telecom Systems business unit. ``GI's SB3100 will help Charter offer its subscribers the most reliable high-speed access to online communication, entertainment, and information, which will translate into higher rates of customer satisfaction and increased revenues.''

The SURFboard product line embodies over 5 years' experience designing cable modems and 50 years in the cable industry. GI's modems offer a standards-based architecture, high-performance processors, superior RF design, operator-friendly diagnostics, and outstanding field reliability.

About Charter Communications

Charter Communications is a Wired World(TM) company offering a full range of traditional cable television services. The company has also begun to offer services including digital cable television, high-speed Internet access and paging and is introducing interactive video programming. All of these services are important steps toward the realization of the Wired World vision where cable's ability to transmit voice, video and data at high speeds will enable it to serve as the primary platform for the delivery of new services to the home and workplace. Charter is the fourth largest operator of cable television systems in the United States, serving approximately 6.2 million customers, after giving effect to a pending acquisition. The chairman of Charter Communications is Paul G. Allen. Jerald L. Kent is the company's president and CEO. More information about Charter can be accessed on the Internet at www.charter.com.

About General Instrument

General Instrument is a leading worldwide provider of integrated and interactive broadband access solutions, teaming with its business partners to lead the convergence of the Internet, telecommunications and video entertainment industries.

Visit General Instrument at its Web Site - http://www.gi.com

The terms ``CableLabs Certified'' or ``Certified by CableLabs'' are certification marks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. and cannot be used without authorization of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.