Charter Taps S-A's SciCare for ITV Help

Charter Communications Inc. tapped Scientific-Atlanta Inc.'s SciCare
Broadband Services division to help the MSO prepare its broadband network to
deliver interactive-television services for 27 sites and 78 hubs.

Under terms of the deal, SciCare will handle network monitoring, software
upgrades, project management, technical support and training certification.
Financial terms were not disclosed.

SciCare said it will offer support via its 'OpsNOW/NetNOW' assessment
program, providing specific recommendations and specialized training to Charter
technicians on activating and operating digital networks and delivery-systems
troubleshooting.

Charter, which serves an aggregate 7 million subscribers, will also employ
'SciConnection,' a 24/7 remote network designed to monitor bandwidth
utilization, general system health and potential database discrepancies.

'Our technicians will work alongside the SciCare consultants to address the
issues in our networks and prepare us to deliver interactive-TV services,' said
Powell Bedgood, Charter's vice president of digital services, in a press
release.

'The days of just resetting a set-top to correct a problem are over,' he
added.