GoKawiilAT&T sues Charter over Spectrum's 'fiber-powered' internet ads
AT&T filed a lawsuit against Charter on Friday, claiming Spectrum's marketing of its internet as 'fiber-powered' misleads customers who aren't actually getting a full fiber connection. Spectrum's network relies on fiber-optic lines for most of its infrastructure but typically switches to copper coaxial cable for the final stretch into homes, unlike true fiber providers that run fiber directly to the wall jack. The suit was filed in Dallas, a market where both companies compete heavily for broadband customers.
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As cable companies race to associate themselves with fiber's reputation for speed and reliability, the line between marketing and technical reality has blurred, leaving consumers uncertain about what they're actually paying for. This lawsuit could set a precedent for how ISPs are allowed to describe hybrid fiber-coaxial networks, affecting advertising standards across the broadband industry.
- AT&T alleges Charter's Spectrum brand misleads consumers with 'fiber-powered' internet claims.
- True fiber delivers symmetrical speeds, while Spectrum's cable plans have far slower uploads than downloads.
- Only about 2.3% of Spectrum's coverage area currently has true fiber access, versus 29.9% with cable.
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Published there as: “AT&T Sues Charter Over ‘Fiber’ Internet”
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