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{{short description|American cable television company}}
{{For|the Indian television channel owned by Madhyamam Group|Media One TV}}
{{For|the Indian television channel owned by Madhyamam Group|MediaOne TV}}
{{Blacklisted-links|1=
*http://archive.is/mpgQ
*:''Triggered by <code>\barchive\.is\b</code> on the local blacklist''|bot=Cyberbot II|invisible=false}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Comcast MO Group, Inc.
| name = Comcast MO Group, Inc.
| logo = [[Image:Media one logo.jpg|MediaOne Group Corporate Logo]]
| logo = [[Image:Media one logo.jpg|MediaOne Group Corporate Logo]]
| caption =
| caption =
| type = Private (Subsidiary of [[Comcast]])
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as =
| traded_as =
| fate =
⚫
| predecessor = [[U S WEST Inc.]] then [[AT&T Corp.|American Telephone and Telegraph Company]] as AT&T Broadband
| fate =
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| successor =
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| predecessor = [[AT&T Corp.|American Telephone and Telegraph Company]]
⚫
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1998}}
⚫
| successor =
| founder =
⚫
| foundation = {{Start date|1983}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| defunct =
| location_city =
| location_city =
| location_country = United States
| location_country = United States
| locations =
| locations =
| area_served =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| key_people =
| industry = [[Cable television]]
| industry = [[Cable television]]
| products =
| products =
| services =
| services =
| revenue =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
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| equity =
| owner =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees =
| divisions =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
| homepage =
| homepage =
| parent = [[Comcast]]
| parent = [[Comcast|Comcast Corporation]]
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
| intl =
| intl =
}}
}}

'''Comcast MO Group, Inc.''', formerly '''MediaOne Group, Inc.''' and originally '''US WEST, Inc.''', was a cable company that was founded in 1983 as one of the original [[Regional Bell Operating Companies]]. Founded under the Modification of Final Judgement (United States v. Western Electric Co., Inc. 552 Fed. Supp. 131), a case related to the [[antitrust]] breakup of [[American Telephone & Telegraph|AT&T]], it began expansion into the [[cable television]] field and later spun off [[U S WEST Communications]] and [[US WEST Dex]] into a "new" US WEST in 1998.
'''Comcast MO Group, Inc.''' (formerly '''MediaOne Group, Inc.''') was created by US WEST Inc., one of the original Baby Bells [[Regional Bell Operating Companies]], acquisition of Boston-based Continental Cable and combined with its previously acquired Atlanta-based Wometco/GTC. Wometco/GTC adopted the MediaOne name a year earlier. Media One Group was acquired in 2000 by [[AT&T Broadband]], which was subsequently acquired by [[Comcast]] in 2002.


==History==
==History==
Until 1990, US WEST was a regional holding company that owned three [[Bell Operating Companies]]: The [[Qwest Corporation|Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph]] Company (or [[Mountain Bell]], based in [[Denver]], Colorado); [[Northwestern Bell]], based in [[Omaha, Nebraska]]; and [[Pacific Northwest Bell]], based in [[Seattle]], Washington. It also had a directory publishing division, [[LANDMARK Publishing]], which later became US WEST Direct. In 1988, the three companies began doing business under the '''US WEST Communications''' name. On January 1, 1991, Northwestern Bell and Pacific Northwest Bell were legally merged into Mountain Bell which was renamed '''US WEST Communications, Inc.''' US WEST was the first RBOC to consolidate its [[Bell Operating Companies]] (the other was [[BellSouth]]).
U S WEST Inc. was a regional holding company formed from the combination of three [[Bell Operating Companies]]: The [[Qwest Corporation|Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph]] Company (or [[Mountain Bell]], based in [[Denver]], Colorado); [[Northwestern Bell]], based in [[Omaha, Nebraska]]; and [[Pacific Northwest Bell]], based in [[Seattle]], Washington. U S WEST Inc. also operated BetaWest, U S WEST International, as well as a directory publishing company, [[LANDMARK Publishing]], renamed US WEST Direct and finally U S WEST Dex. On January 1, 1991, Northwestern Bell and Pacific Northwest Bell were legally merged into Mountain Bell and renamed '''US WEST Communications, Inc.''' US WEST was the first RBOC to consolidate its [[Bell Operating Companies]] (followed by other was [[BellSouth]]).

===New technologies===
US WEST became a pioneer in the introduction and rapid system-wide implementation of telephone technologies designed by [[Bellcore]] (now [[Telcordia Technologies]]) in the 1980s and 1990s. Their lead in this push became one that many other [[Regional Bell Operating Companies]] had to scramble to keep up with.

US WEST's success in this endeavor was for multiple reasons which included their then-innovative use of "test-markets" for staggered roll-outs of new calling features in middle-sized cities such as [[Boise, Idaho]], [[Minneapolis]], Minnesota, and [[Phoenix, Arizona]] before releasing them on a wider scale. (They were the first communications provider to use this strategy called [[beta-testing]], a term used for many years in the software development industry). Their geographic presence featured telephone switching equipment that had been constructed fairly recent to the time frame, thereby requiring fewer upgrades. Their service area was also experiencing population growth at a tremendous rate, tripling their subscriber-base in a short time and increasing revenues.

[[Image:USWestbell.png|220px|right|U S WEST logo, with Bell and slogan]]
As a result of its rapid "bring-to-market" abilities and continued success in the advances in technology, the company quickly adopted a new slogan— "Life's better here."


===Expansion into cable===
===Expansion into cable===
[[Image:USWest Media Logo.PNG|thumb|right|U S WEST Media Group logo, 1995-1998]]
[[Image:USWest Media Logo.PNG|thumb|right|U S WEST Media Group logo, 1995–1998]]
In order to segregate its regulated [[Plain old telephone service|telephone service]] from its unregulated [[cable TV]] businesses, US WEST separated their assets and businesses into two groups named US WEST Communications Group and US WEST Media Group and issued to its shareholders separate shares for the Media Group. Although both were part of the same corporation, the shares of each group reflected and tracked the results and prospects of the group's business, and could be traded separately. The Media Group's ticker symbol was "'''UMG'''" while communications group continued with the "'''USW'''" ticker.
In order to segregate its regulated [[Plain old telephone service|telephone service]] from its unregulated [[cable TV]] businesses, US WEST Inc separated their assets and businesses into two groups named US WEST Communications Group and US WEST Media Group and issued separate tracking shares for each company. These tracking shares reflected results and prospects of the group's business, and would be traded separately. The Media Group's ticker symbol was "'''UMG'''" while Communications group continued with the "'''USW'''" ticker.


In 1995, the Cable Modem service was later renamed to MediaOne Express. After completion of that deal, the company completed a co-branding deal with [[Time Warner]]'s cable modem Internet business under which MediaOne would become [[Road Runner (ISP)|MediaOne RoadRunner]].
In 1995, the cable modem service was later renamed to MediaOne Express. The company completed a co-branding deal with [[Time Warner]]'s cable modem Internet business under which MediaOne would become [[Road Runner (ISP)|MediaOne RoadRunner]].


====Acquisitions====
====Acquisitions====
In 1996, [[U S WEST]] acquired '''Continental Cablevision''' for $5.3 billion in stock and renamed it ''MediaOne'' (initially named ''Media1''). [[Amos Hostetter, Jr.|Amos B. Hostetter, Jr.]], a founder and former chairman and CEO of Continental resigned after U S WEST moved the company's headquarters from [[Boston, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Variety Staff |date=6 October 1997 |title=Media One exec team to relocate |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR111662296.html |accessdate=11 March 2011 }}</ref>
In 1996, [[U S WEST]] acquired '''Continental Cablevision''' for $5.3 billion in stock and renamed it ''MediaOne'' (initially named ''Media1''). [[Amos Hostetter, Jr.|Amos B. Hostetter, Jr.]], a founder and former chairman and CEO of Continental resigned after U S WEST moved the company's headquarters from [[Boston, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Variety Staff |date=6 October 1997 |title=Media One exec team to relocate |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR111662296.html |access-date=11 March 2011 }}</ref>


In time the service also included pay-per-view, and a self-branded high-speed [[cable modem]] internet service named Hiway1 (Highway One). Hiway1 was an early provider of the cable modem technology.<ref>Due to the early adoption of the technology, customers could not yet have access to any [[Duplex (telecommunications)|bi-directional]] communication via the cable modem. Hiway1's cable company's infrastructure was incapable of two-way communication. The customer would only be able to use the Hiway1's cable modem for [[downlink]] and a regular in-home modem (presumably over the [[telephone]] line) for [[uplink]] communication.</ref> Most early-period modems for the service were created by the manufacturer LANcity ([[Bay Networks]]).
In time the service also included pay-per-view, and a self-branded high-speed [[cable modem]] internet service named Hiway1 (Highway One). Hiway1 was an early provider of the cable modem technology.<ref>Due to the early adoption of the technology, customers could not yet have access to any [[Duplex (telecommunications)|bi-directional]] communication via the cable modem. Hiway1's cable company's infrastructure was incapable of two-way communication. The customer would only be able to use the Hiway1's cable modem for [[downlink]] and a regular in-home modem (presumably over the [[telephone]] line) for [[uplink]] communication.</ref> Most early-period modems for the service were created by the manufacturer LANcity ([[Bay Networks]]).


===Name change===
===Name change===
In 1998, US WEST split up into two separate companies. '''US WEST, Inc.''', or the "Old US WEST", changed its name to MediaOne Group, Inc. and transferred the [[U S WEST Communications]] and [[Dex Media|U S WEST Dex]] divisions to a new entity incorporated in [[Delaware]] named '''US WEST, Inc.''' The "new" US WEST was then spun off to shareholders of Communications Group stock. The split became effective June 12, 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.porticus.org/bell/pdf/USW1999_annualreport.pdf |title=U S WEST 1999 Annual Report |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}</ref> [[Chuck Lillis]] became [[CEO]] of MediaOne Group.
In 1998, US WEST Inc spun off its telephone and non-telephone assets into two separate companies. '''US WEST, Inc.''', later changing its name to MediaOne Group, Inc. and [[U S WEST Communications]] and [[Dex Media|U S WEST Dex]] divisions to a new entity incorporated in [[Delaware]] named '''US WEST, Inc.''' The "new" US WEST was then spun off to shareholders of Communications Group stock. The split became effective June 12, 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.porticus.org/bell/pdf/USW1999_annualreport.pdf |title=U S WEST 1999 Annual Report |access-date=2013-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111150505/http://www.porticus.org/bell/pdf/USW1999_annualreport.pdf |archive-date=2011-11-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Chuck Lillis]] became [[CEO]] of MediaOne Group.


===Acquisition by AT&T===
===Acquisition by AT&T===
In 1999, [[Comcast]] first made a bid for MediaOne. Comcast said they would pay $60 billion and assume all of MediaOne's debt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/MediaOne-ATT-deal-pushes-Comcast-aside/2100-1033_3-225264.html |title= MediaOne-AT&T deal pushes Comcast aside |last1= Grice |first1= Corey |date= 3 May 1999 |work= |publisher=[[CNET Networks#CNET News|CNET News]] |accessdate=11 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/ATT+makes+surprise+bid+for+MediaOne/2100-1033_3-224850.html |title= AT&T makes surprise bid for MediaOne |last1= Borland |first1= John |last2= Grice |first2= Corey |date= 23 April 1999 |publisher=[[CNET Networks#CNET News|CNET News]] |accessdate=11 March 2011|archiveurl=http://archive.is/mpgQ|archivedate=11 July 2012}}</ref> On May 6, 1999 AT&T, not wanting to be outdone promised about $62 billion instead, and paid the "breaking up of the MediaOne-Comcast merger agreement" allowing MediaOne to be purchased by [[AT&T]].
In 1999, [[Comcast]] first made a bid for MediaOne. Comcast said they would pay $60 billion and assume all of MediaOne's debt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/MediaOne-ATT-deal-pushes-Comcast-aside/2100-1033_3-225264.html |title= MediaOne-AT&T deal pushes Comcast aside |last1= Grice |first1= Corey |date= 3 May 1999 |publisher=[[CNET Networks#CNET News|CNET News]] |access-date=11 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/ATT+makes+surprise+bid+for+MediaOne/2100-1033_3-224850.html |title=AT&T makes surprise bid for MediaOne |last1=Borland |first1=John |last2=Grice |first2=Corey |date=23 April 1999 |publisher=[[CNET Networks#CNET News|CNET News]] |access-date=11 March 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711234138/http://news.cnet.com/ATT-makes-surprise-bid-for-MediaOne/2100-1033_3-224850.html |archive-date=11 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On May 6, 1999, AT&T, not wanting to be outdone promised about $62 billion instead, and paid a break up fee of $1.5 billion allowing MediaOne to be purchased by [[AT&T]].


MediaOne RoadRunner et al. next became AT&T branded. The portion which ran television was "AT&T Cable Television", another part for Internet became known as "[[AT&T Broadband]] Internet" and the third became "AT&T Digital Phone". The buyout of MediaOne by AT&T happened close on the heels of AT&T's other cable company purchase [[Tele-Communications Inc.|TCI]]. That buyout by TCI already made AT&T the largest cable company, and MediaOne only served to increase their margin of leadership.
MediaOne RoadRunner et al. next became AT&T branded. The portion which ran television was "AT&T Cable Television", another part for Internet became known as "[[AT&T Broadband]] Internet" and the third became "AT&T Digital Phone". The buyout of MediaOne by AT&T happened close on the heels of AT&T's other cable company purchase [[Tele-Communications Inc.|TCI]]. That buyout by TCI already made AT&T the largest cable company, and MediaOne only served to increase their margin of leadership.


In the summer of 2000, AT&T Broadband purchased the cable television system serving the city of [[Boston]], then controlled by New York-based [[Cablevision]], for $1.1 billion in stock, cash and a trade of other cable systems. The deal effectively made the Boston/New England region MediaOne's largest clustered market. In exchange for the Boston system, Cablevision also received several of AT&T Broadband's systems which served suburban New York communities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3169/is_17_40/ai_61625148/ |title= AT&T, Cablevision Swap |year= 2000 |work= |publisher=Warren Publishing, Inc. |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref>
In the summer of 2000, AT&T Broadband purchased the cable television system serving the city of [[Boston]], then controlled by New York-based [[Cablevision]], for $1.1 billion in stock, cash and a trade of other cable systems. The deal effectively made the Boston/New England region MediaOne's largest clustered market. In exchange for the Boston system, Cablevision also received several of AT&T Broadband's systems which served suburban New York communities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3169/is_17_40/ai_61625148/ |title= AT&T, Cablevision Swap |year= 2000 |publisher=Warren Publishing, Inc. |access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>


AT&T was unable to make the merger work for many reasons, and split the company into three separate companies: [[AT&T Corp.]] continued and retained its long distance business, [[AT&T Wireless Services]] was spun off as a public company, and [[AT&T Broadband]] was purchased by [[Comcast]]. At this point, MediaOne became known as '''Comcast MO Group, Inc.'''
AT&T was unable to make the merger work for many reasons, and split the company into three separate companies: [[AT&T Corp.]] continued and retained its long-distance business, [[AT&T Wireless Services]] was spun off as a public company, and [[AT&T Broadband]] was purchased by [[Comcast]]. At this point, MediaOne became known as '''Comcast MO Group, Inc.'''


=== Criticisms ===
=== Criticisms ===
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US WEST went through a period of union-management relations that bordered on positive during the early 1990s. After a failed re-engineering strategy, relations fell apart due to increasing hostility between company leaders and employees. When the company rolled out its new slogan – "Life's better here" – employees began wearing buttons and shirts that stated that "Life's Bitter Here".{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}
US WEST went through a period of union-management relations that bordered on positive during the early 1990s. After a failed re-engineering strategy, relations fell apart due to increasing hostility between company leaders and employees. When the company rolled out its new slogan – "Life's better here" – employees began wearing buttons and shirts that stated that "Life's Bitter Here".{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}


The company was fined multiple times by the State of [[Oregon]] for these practices during the 1990s. S WEST was also, at several times, involved in smaller litigation with other states within its service area for similar complaints from customers.
The company was fined multiple times by the State of [[Oregon]] for these practices during the 1990s. US WEST was also, at several times, involved in smaller litigation with other states within its service area for similar complaints from customers.


Qwest, [[MCI Inc.|MCI]], and smaller [[competitive local exchange carrier]]s (CLECs) who had recently been allowed to offer local service within US WEST's service area (as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996) complained to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) that U S WEST was uncooperative in releasing their formerly owned lines to these new companies. These types of complaints landed US WEST in court yet again, offering the complex question of whether or not the government could legally offer the sale of owned property to other companies in the event of [[deregulation]].
Qwest, [[MCI Inc.|MCI]], and smaller [[competitive local exchange carrier]]s (CLECs) who had recently been allowed to offer local service within US WEST's service area (as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996) complained to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) that U S WEST was uncooperative in releasing their formerly owned lines to these new companies. These types of complaints landed US WEST in court yet again, offering the complex question of whether or not the government could legally offer the sale of owned property to other companies in the event of [[deregulation]].
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In 1996, reports appearing in ''[[The Denver Post]]'' and the ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]'' revealed that CLECs had lodged complaints with the FCC against US WEST, including multiple complaints from [[Qwest Communications International|Qwest Communications International, Inc.]] The complaints alleged US WEST neglected or seriously delayed release of "bundled loops" as required by the [[Telecommunications Act of 1996]], making it difficult for competitors to provide local telephone service to their customers. Other competitors began following suit, and charged US WEST with monopoly-like or anti-trust type behavior.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}
In 1996, reports appearing in ''[[The Denver Post]]'' and the ''[[Rocky Mountain News]]'' revealed that CLECs had lodged complaints with the FCC against US WEST, including multiple complaints from [[Qwest Communications International|Qwest Communications International, Inc.]] The complaints alleged US WEST neglected or seriously delayed release of "bundled loops" as required by the [[Telecommunications Act of 1996]], making it difficult for competitors to provide local telephone service to their customers. Other competitors began following suit, and charged US WEST with monopoly-like or anti-trust type behavior.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}


Many customers criticized AT&T over the transitioning from Mediaone.net to attbroadband.com and subsequently attbi.com email addresses.<ref>[Mediaone.net domain name change: A warning]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Howe |first=Peter J. |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7693432.html |title=Some At&T Users Face E-Mail Shift |publisher=Highbeam.com |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}</ref> A final subsequent change from attbi.com to Comcast.net also drew further criticism from the company's longest customers who may have gone though the several prior email changes.<ref>{{cite web|author=Janesfolkart (1 comment ) |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1038_3-1022801.html |title=Comcast: AT&T transition steady so far |publisher=News.cnet.com |date= |accessdate=2013-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehotiron.com/index.php/site/comments/theirs_is_not_your_domain_name/ |title=Theirs is not Your Domain Name |publisher=Thehotiron.com |date=2007-02-17 |accessdate=2013-03-13}}</ref>
Many customers criticized AT&T over the transitioning from Mediaone.net to attbroadband.com and subsequently attbi.com email addresses.<ref>[Mediaone.net domain name change: A warning]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Howe |first=Peter J. |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7693432.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121062402/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7693432.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-01-21 |title=Some At&T Users Face E-Mail Shift |publisher=Highbeam.com |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref> A final subsequent change from attbi.com to Comcast.net also drew further criticism from the company's longest customers who may have gone through the several prior email changes.<ref>{{cite web|author=Janesfolkart (1 comment ) |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1038_3-1022801.html |title=Comcast: AT&T transition steady so far |publisher=News.cnet.com |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehotiron.com/index.php/site/comments/theirs_is_not_your_domain_name/ |title=Theirs is not Your Domain Name |publisher=Thehotiron.com |date=2007-02-17 |access-date=2013-03-13}}</ref>


==Markets==
==Markets==
The main markets & regions for MediaOne were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaone.net/ |title=This is Broadband. This is the way |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2000-03-04 |accessdate=2013-03-13 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20120904062709/http://IPEHKAOLEFHBAABOFLJDEEKPCDAA.markmansoor@mediaone.net/ |archivedate=September 4, 2012 }}</ref>
The main markets & regions for MediaOne were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaone.net/ |title=This is Broadband. This is the way |date=2000-03-04 |access-date=2013-03-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904062709/http://IPEHKAOLEFHBAABOFLJDEEKPCDAA.markmansoor@mediaone.net/ |archive-date=September 4, 2012 }}</ref>
*"MediaOne Atlanta"—[[Atlanta]], Fayetteville ([[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]])
*"MediaOne Atlanta"—[[Atlanta]], Fayetteville ([[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]])
*"MediaOne Chicago"—[[Chicago]] market ([[Illinois]])
*"MediaOne Chicago"—[[Chicago]] market ([[Illinois]])
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*"MediaOne West"—Bakersfield, [[Fresno]], [[Los Angeles]], Mendota, [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] ([[California]])
*"MediaOne West"—Bakersfield, [[Fresno]], [[Los Angeles]], Mendota, [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] ([[California]])


Besides the [[United States]], MediaOne Group also had several smaller business operations in:
Besides the [[United States]], MediaOne Group also had several smaller business operations in headed by CEO Ron Timmons:
*[[Belgium]]
*[[Belgium]]
*[[Czech Republic]]
*[[Czech Republic]]
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*[[United Kingdom]]
*[[United Kingdom]]


Almost all of MediaOne's international holdings were sold-off to satisfy regulators for the merger with AT&T.
Almost all of MediaOne's international holdings were sold off to satisfy regulators for the merger with AT&T.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[AT&T Broadband]]
* [[AT&T Broadband]]
*[[Qwest Corporation]]
* [[CenturyLink]]
*[[U S WEST]]
* [[Qwest]]
* [[U S WEST]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |url=https://continentalstory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/CCI-ebook-Final.pdf |url-access= |title=Continental Cablevision Story from Community Antenna Television to the Information Superhighway, (The) | last=Hostetter | first=Amos B. Jr. |year=2015 |website=historyfactory.com |publisher=Pilot House Associates, (The) |arxiv= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn=9781882771400 |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn=2014909262 |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=December 30, 2021 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= }}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/19991011215622/http://www.mediaone.com/ MediaOne] (archived company website from 1999)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19991011215622/http://www.mediaone.com/ MediaOne] (archived company website from 1999)

{{AT&T Spinoffs}}
{{AT&T Spinoffs}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mediaone}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mediaone}}
[[Category:Bell System]]
[[Category:Comcast]]
[[Category:Comcast]]
[[Category:Bell System]]
[[Category:Former AT&T subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Companies based in Boston]]
[[Category:Companies based in Boston, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1983]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Pennsylvania]]

Latest revision as of 04:55, 27 April 2024

For the Indian television channel owned by Madhyamam Group, see MediaOne TV.
Comcast MO Group, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryCable television
PredecessorU S WEST Inc. then American Telephone and Telegraph Company as AT&T Broadband
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Headquarters
United States
ParentComcast Corporation

Comcast MO Group, Inc. (formerly MediaOne Group, Inc.) was created by US WEST Inc., one of the original Baby Bells Regional Bell Operating Companies, acquisition of Boston-based Continental Cable and combined with its previously acquired Atlanta-based Wometco/GTC. Wometco/GTC adopted the MediaOne name a year earlier. Media One Group was acquired in 2000 by AT&T Broadband, which was subsequently acquired by Comcast in 2002.

History[edit]

U S WEST Inc. was a regional holding company formed from the combination of three Bell Operating Companies: The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company (or Mountain Bell, based in Denver, Colorado); Northwestern Bell, based in Omaha, Nebraska; and Pacific Northwest Bell, based in Seattle, Washington. U S WEST Inc. also operated BetaWest, U S WEST International, as well as a directory publishing company, LANDMARK Publishing, renamed US WEST Direct and finally U S WEST Dex. On January 1, 1991, Northwestern Bell and Pacific Northwest Bell were legally merged into Mountain Bell and renamed US WEST Communications, Inc. US WEST was the first RBOC to consolidate its Bell Operating Companies (followed by other was BellSouth).

Expansion into cable[edit]

U S WEST Media Group logo, 1995–1998

In order to segregate its regulated telephone service from its unregulated cable TV businesses, US WEST Inc separated their assets and businesses into two groups named US WEST Communications Group and US WEST Media Group and issued separate tracking shares for each company. These tracking shares reflected results and prospects of the group's business, and would be traded separately. The Media Group's ticker symbol was "UMG" while Communications group continued with the "USW" ticker.

In 1995, the cable modem service was later renamed to MediaOne Express. The company completed a co-branding deal with Time Warner's cable modem Internet business under which MediaOne would become MediaOne RoadRunner.

Acquisitions[edit]

In 1996, U S WEST acquired Continental Cablevision for $5.3 billion in stock and renamed it MediaOne (initially named Media1). Amos B. Hostetter, Jr., a founder and former chairman and CEO of Continental resigned after U S WEST moved the company's headquarters from Boston, Massachusetts.[1]

In time the service also included pay-per-view, and a self-branded high-speed cable modem internet service named Hiway1 (Highway One). Hiway1 was an early provider of the cable modem technology.[2] Most early-period modems for the service were created by the manufacturer LANcity (Bay Networks).

Name change[edit]

In 1998, US WEST Inc spun off its telephone and non-telephone assets into two separate companies. US WEST, Inc., later changing its name to MediaOne Group, Inc. and U S WEST Communications and U S WEST Dex divisions to a new entity incorporated in Delaware named US WEST, Inc. The "new" US WEST was then spun off to shareholders of Communications Group stock. The split became effective June 12, 1998.[3] Chuck Lillis became CEO of MediaOne Group.

Acquisition by AT&T[edit]

In 1999, Comcast first made a bid for MediaOne. Comcast said they would pay $60 billion and assume all of MediaOne's debt.[4][5] On May 6, 1999, AT&T, not wanting to be outdone promised about $62 billion instead, and paid a break up fee of $1.5 billion allowing MediaOne to be purchased by AT&T.

MediaOne RoadRunner et al. next became AT&T branded. The portion which ran television was "AT&T Cable Television", another part for Internet became known as "AT&T Broadband Internet" and the third became "AT&T Digital Phone". The buyout of MediaOne by AT&T happened close on the heels of AT&T's other cable company purchase TCI. That buyout by TCI already made AT&T the largest cable company, and MediaOne only served to increase their margin of leadership.

In the summer of 2000, AT&T Broadband purchased the cable television system serving the city of Boston, then controlled by New York-based Cablevision, for $1.1 billion in stock, cash and a trade of other cable systems. The deal effectively made the Boston/New England region MediaOne's largest clustered market. In exchange for the Boston system, Cablevision also received several of AT&T Broadband's systems which served suburban New York communities.[6]

AT&T was unable to make the merger work for many reasons, and split the company into three separate companies: AT&T Corp. continued and retained its long-distance business, AT&T Wireless Services was spun off as a public company, and AT&T Broadband was purchased by Comcast. At this point, MediaOne became known as Comcast MO Group, Inc.

Criticisms[edit]

US WEST, as a telephone service provider, was accused by critics[who?] of failing to meet service needs within a reasonable time frame and of practicing predatory billing and collection methods. While the company often claimed that subscriber demands were often greater than their ability to fulfill orders, many critics pointed to high profit margins, spending on bring-to-market technology and lackluster investment in customer support.

US WEST went through a period of union-management relations that bordered on positive during the early 1990s. After a failed re-engineering strategy, relations fell apart due to increasing hostility between company leaders and employees. When the company rolled out its new slogan – "Life's better here" – employees began wearing buttons and shirts that stated that "Life's Bitter Here".[citation needed]

The company was fined multiple times by the State of Oregon for these practices during the 1990s. US WEST was also, at several times, involved in smaller litigation with other states within its service area for similar complaints from customers.

Qwest, MCI, and smaller competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) who had recently been allowed to offer local service within US WEST's service area (as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996) complained to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that U S WEST was uncooperative in releasing their formerly owned lines to these new companies. These types of complaints landed US WEST in court yet again, offering the complex question of whether or not the government could legally offer the sale of owned property to other companies in the event of deregulation.

In 1996, reports appearing in The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News revealed that CLECs had lodged complaints with the FCC against US WEST, including multiple complaints from Qwest Communications International, Inc. The complaints alleged US WEST neglected or seriously delayed release of "bundled loops" as required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, making it difficult for competitors to provide local telephone service to their customers. Other competitors began following suit, and charged US WEST with monopoly-like or anti-trust type behavior.[citation needed]

Many customers criticized AT&T over the transitioning from Mediaone.net to attbroadband.com and subsequently attbi.com email addresses.[7][8] A final subsequent change from attbi.com to Comcast.net also drew further criticism from the company's longest customers who may have gone through the several prior email changes.[9][10]

Markets[edit]

The main markets & regions for MediaOne were:[11]

Besides the United States, MediaOne Group also had several smaller business operations in headed by CEO Ron Timmons:

Almost all of MediaOne's international holdings were sold off to satisfy regulators for the merger with AT&T.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Variety Staff (6 October 1997). "Media One exec team to relocate". Variety. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  2. ^ Due to the early adoption of the technology, customers could not yet have access to any bi-directional communication via the cable modem. Hiway1's cable company's infrastructure was incapable of two-way communication. The customer would only be able to use the Hiway1's cable modem for downlink and a regular in-home modem (presumably over the telephone line) for uplink communication.
  3. ^ "U S WEST 1999 Annual Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  4. ^ Grice, Corey (3 May 1999). "MediaOne-AT&T deal pushes Comcast aside". CNET News. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  5. ^ Borland, John; Grice, Corey (23 April 1999). "AT&T makes surprise bid for MediaOne". CNET News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  6. ^ "AT&T, Cablevision Swap". Warren Publishing, Inc. 2000. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  7. ^ [Mediaone.net domain name change: A warning]
  8. ^ Howe, Peter J. "Some At&T Users Face E-Mail Shift". Highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  9. ^ Janesfolkart (1 comment ). "Comcast: AT&T transition steady so far". News.cnet.com. Retrieved 2013-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Theirs is not Your Domain Name". Thehotiron.com. 2007-02-17. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  11. ^ "This is Broadband. This is the way". 2000-03-04. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  12. ^ AT&T Absorbs MediaOne Labs After Deal Closes[dead link]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

  • MediaOne (archived company website from 1999)
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