Missoula’s largest cable provider, Charter, inks agreement with Comcast

By Missoula Current

Charter Communications, the largest cable provider in Missoula, has entered into a new wireless partnership with Comcast Corp. in an effort to better compete and reduce customer turnover.

The deal, announced Monday, comes as cable companies look to diversify their services and stave off customer losses, as younger viewers turn away from high-priced subscription models in favor of cheaper online options.

The agreement will enable the two companies to approach major wireless carriers and better compete in the expanding wireless marketplace.

"By working with the team at Comcast, we can not only speed Charter's entry into the marketplace, it will also enable us to provide more competition and drive costs down for consumers at a similar national scale as current wireless operators," Charter Chairman and CEO Tom Rutledge said in a statement.

The deal comes nearly two years after AT&T closed its own $49 billion acquisition of DirectTV, which also boasts a strong customer base in Missoula.

That acquisition made AT&T the country’s largest pay TV provider, with more than 26 million total subscribers. It also enabled AT&T to expand services to access and stream DirectTV content through a wireless connection.

Dominique Jones, the lead talent acquisition manager for AT&T, said the company is currently recruiting for its Missoula call center.

Jones told the Missoula Current that the company has immediate needs for 15 to 20 employees and will continue hiring over the next few months.

“The acquisition has positioned us really uniquely in the entertainment space to allow us to do some really unique things,” Jones said. “We have immediate needs for 15 or 20 employees in our Missoula call center, and it looks like we'll continue that hiring rhythm for the next few months.”

Jones said the positions pay from $11 an hour up to $15.50 an include regular pay increases.