Charter's not exactly known around these parts as a cutting edge company when it comes to broadband speed and service - particularly in markets where there are no other options (see reviews). That's apparently news to them, however. "We're up for the competition [of Fios]," says a Charter exec to The Madison Capital Times. Like Comcast though, lowering prices to do so is apparently a dirty word.

"It's an interesting proposition on whether you compete on price - I think at Charter we tend to look at it a little bit differently," says Senior VP Mary White, who argues consumers react more to advanced services than they do to low prices (apparently you don't get both?).

Meanwhile, back in reality, Charter has been one of the worst performing cable outfits in the industry, hampered by $19 billion in debt it collected in the early nineties after a series of acquisitions. Employees privately aren't optimistic about the company's future, investors are nervous, and customers haven't seen broadband upgrades in more than a year.