Hargray promised it won’t change ways. Here’s what Spectrum said about net neutrality

Hargray Communications announced on Friday that it would not be changing the way it operates because of the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality regulations. But Hargray is not the only cable and internet provider in Beaufort County. What about Spectrum?

A spokesman for Charter Communications, which delivers television and internet services to customers through the Spectrum brand, issued a statement on Monday also supporting open internet access for its customers.

“Charter supports an open internet because we believe delivering superior broadband to our customers is an essential ingredient to growing our business. Without an open internet, that isn’t possible,” said the statement from Patrick Paterno, director of public relations for the company’s Carolina region.

“We don’t slow down, block, or discriminate against lawful content,” Paterno wrote. “Simply put, we don’t interfere with the lawful online practices of our customers, and we have no plans to change our practices.”

Hargray, which is based on Hilton Head Island, provides internet service for many in Beaufort County. It’s statement pledged that the company would not speed up or slow down access to internet content and would not take money from content providers to provide priority access to their sites. The company also pledged not to sell customers’ private data.

“Hargray is announcing a customer pledge that includes commitments to not change how it operates as a result of the FCC’s recent repeal of net neutrality,” the news release said.

Net neutrality is a longtime principle that says all internet traffic must be treated equally. The repeal eliminates certain federal consumer protections and gives internet service providers a free hand to slow or block websites and apps as they see fit or charge more for faster speeds.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Hargray promised it won’t change ways. Here’s what Spectrum said about net neutrality."