Now Customers Have a New Choice for Local Phone Service With Unlimited Local and Long Distance Calling

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Charter Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHTR) today announced that residents in the Inland Empire and High Desert will be the first in California to experience Charter Telephone(TM) service. The new service is powerful, cutting-edge, and an entirely new consumer choice featuring unlimited local and long distance calls and many other features.

"There's a new and better telephone company in town, and it's called Charter," said Tom Tomkins, Charter's VP and General Manager for the Inland Empire. "Our service is very competitive and delivers outstanding features. We are the only company in this area to offer digital cable television, high-speed Internet service and now telephone on the same fiber optic and coaxial cable lines directly to the home on a single bill."

Charter Telephone will cost $39.99 a month for existing customers, with significant discounts for those who also receive qualified Charter Digital(TM) video and Charter High-Speed(TM) Internet services. There are no hidden activation or deactivation fees. In celebration of the launch of Charter Telephone, the first month and installation of the service will be free. Customers are not required to purchase other Charter services to utilize Charter Telephone.

In addition to unlimited local and long distance calls, Charter Telephone customers enjoy caller ID, call waiting and call waiting with caller ID, speed dial for eight different numbers, and anonymous call rejection. Voicemail is included for a limited time with this package.

Customers are not required to purchase other Charter services to utilize Charter Telephone. The service is offered to non-customers for a price of $44.99.

Residents will also be able to keep their current telephone number or choose a new one. There is no need to purchase additional equipment when switching to Charter Telephone since the service works over existing telephone lines and is available on any in-home telephone jack.

The network also has a backup system in case of a power failure, making the service as reliable as traditional telephone service. Customers will also benefit from Charter Telephone's E911 emergency service, which identifies the actual address to emergency operators.

Charter Communications currently provides advanced broadband services to over half a million customers in Southern California. Residents already benefit from Charter's advanced services, including Charter Digital video, Charter High-Speed Internet, Charter On Demand, Charter HD and Charter DVR.

About Charter Communications

Charter Communications, Inc., a broadband communications company, provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform via Charter Digital(TM), Charter High-Speed(TM) Internet service and Charter Telephone(TM). Charter Business(TM) provides scalable, tailored and cost- effective broadband communications solutions to organizations of all sizes through business-to-business Internet, data networking, video and music services. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media(R) brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.

SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.

CONTACT:
Art Maulsby
Bob Gold & Associates
310-320-2010
art@bobgoldpr.com
for Charter Communications, Inc.