Charter Communications

Stamford, Connecticut
Media and Entertainment, Telecommunication Services

Corporate Bias Rating

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Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

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.

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Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

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).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Charter’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (3).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level
Rationale

Charter’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

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).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

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).

 

Criteria

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

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

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.

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Political Contributions of Leadership:

$2,716,846

$947,754

Republican

Democrat

China Risk Database

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Number of Facilities: 1

Total Export Dollars: $12,150

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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 ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
4/23/24Service Employees International Union Master TrustStockholder proposal regarding Lobbying ActivitiesAgainstN/A
4/23/24New York State Common Retirement FundReport on Political ExpendituresAgainstN/A
4/25/23GovernanceThe Service Employees International Union Pension Plans Master TrustReport on LobbyingAgainst31.90%
4/26/22SocialAs You SowData on DEI Initiatives Related to Workforce Composition and PromotionAgainst44.70%
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