
Charter Communications
Corporate Bias Rating
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Risk Level:
Summary:
Charter Communications is High Risk. The company yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. Charter Communications embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.
View Full Corporate Bias Ratings ReportHas canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
Charter received a score of 90 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2). However, the company has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (3).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.
Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Charter Communications’ HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company has been a supporter of the “diversity and inclusion” language of the LGBTQ movement and offers “comprehensive health benefits” for transgender employees (3)(4).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Charter Communications’ HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company has pledged to invest $10 million in the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, including the National Urban League (3)(4). The company indirectly gave to a local chapter of the HRC through its news network, Spectrum (5). It is a brass sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (6)(7). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (8).
Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Charter’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company donated to the Equality PAC but has not lobbied for ideological purposes (3)(4)(5).
Board Bias
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CEO of Charter Communications
Christopher Winfrey
Summary:
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Charter Communications is a member of the Fortune 250 operating in the Telecommunication Services industry. Christopher Winfrey and Thomas M. Rutledge serve as CEO/President and Chairman, respectively, leading the company’s C-suite executive team and the board of directors. Amongst these teams, the collective leadership is responsible for $2,716,846 to Republican causes and $947,754 to Democratic causes. Under their tenure, Charter Communications currently holds a 'High Risk' risk rating.
View Full Board Bias ReportPolitical Contributions of Leadership:
$2,716,846
$947,754
Republican
Democrat
China Risk Database
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Average Annual Revenue
Global
$48,584,333,333
China Revenue
0.00%
$0
Annual Average of Total Assets
Global
$144,953,000,000
China Assets
0.00%
$0
Shareholder Proposals
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| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/23/24 | Service Employees International Union Master Trust | Stockholder proposal regarding Lobbying Activities | Against | N/A | |
| 4/23/24 | New York State Common Retirement Fund | Report on Political Expenditures | Against | N/A | |
| 4/25/23 | Governance | The Service Employees International Union Pension Plans Master Trust | Report on Lobbying | Against | 31.90% |
| 4/26/22 | Social | As You Sow | Data on DEI Initiatives Related to Workforce Composition and Promotion | Against | 44.70% |