Oceanic officially rebrands as Spectrum

Oceanic Time Warner Cable is a thing of the past.

Charter Communications, which purchased Time Warner Cable, Oceanic’s parent, in May 2016, announced Tuesday that the cable/internet provider formally changed its name to Spectrum in Hawaii.

“Spectrum is also investing in service,” says a company announcement. “Spectrum is bringing back jobs from international call centers, insourcing its workforce and adding more jobs to serve the customer better.”

The company plans to hire 20,000 new workers, most of whom “will serve customers directly.”

The newly monikered company also undertook a push to draw customers to low-cost, wide-variety internet, TV and telephone connectivity.

In March 2016, the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs granted Oceanic Time Warner Cable LLC a renewal and consolidation of its East Hawaii and West Hawaii franchises.

Spectrum is now advertising online deals if customers bundle voice, internet and television service, along with deals for customers who qualify for reduced-cost school lunches or for Supplemental Security Income (age 65 and older).

As another enticement to boost its customer base, Spectrum says it will buy customers out of competitors’ remaining contracts.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission says cable companies are required to offer a basic “tier” of services that include public television channels, local TV stations, education and government channels.

But, the FCC’s site says, “most rates charged by cable television companies are not regulated by the FCC.”

In an attempt to transform the cable business model, Spectrum says it won’t charge early termination fees, will have no data maximums and will offer enough bandwidth to let everyone in the family stream video at the same time on separate devices.

Spectrum emphasizes that customers won’t have to sign a contract and “can break free from stress and worry” with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.