Fitch Publishes U.S. Telecom and Cable Stats Quarterly

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Fitch Ratings has published its U.S. and Canada 'Telecommunications and Cable
Stats Quarterly' report. This report provides a summary of individual company
operating performance and credit metrics over the past four years ending March
31, 2009; key credit strengths and concerns; and a summary of company liquidity
positions as of first-quarter 2009 for Fitch's rating universe for this sector.

Generally, companies in this sector have been negatively affected by the
weakening economy and increasing competitive pressure. First-quarter indications
of economic pressure were most visible in business revenue for incumbent local
exchange carriers (ILECs), and advertising, premium channel and pay
video-on-demand (VOD) revenue for cable multiple system operators (MSOs).
Likewise, competitive pressure has had an impact on operators by increasing
churn in ILEC access lines and pressuring basic subscriber growth for cable
MSOs. In response to these pressures operators have reduced share repurchase
programs and capital spending plans for 2009 to maximize financial flexibility.
Capital market access has been available to many operators to date in 2009
within this sector with offerings from AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications, Inc.,
Verizon Wireless Capital LLC (and Cellco Partnership), TELUS Corp., Qwest Corp.,
Frontier Communications Corp., Cox Communications, Rogers Communications, Inc.
and CSC Holdings. As a result, most companies are successfully meeting maturity
requirements and maintaining sufficient liquidity to meet future obligations.

This report, 'Telecommunications and Cable Stats Quarterly - First-Quarter 2009'
is available on the Fitch Ratings web site at www.fitchratings.com.

Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on
the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and
methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of
conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance
and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of
Conduct' section of this site.

Fitch Ratings
Michael Weaver, +1-312-368-3156, Chicago
John Culver, CFA, +1-312-368-3216, Chicago
Media Relations:
Cindy Stoller, +1-212-908-0526, New York
cindy.stoller@fitchratings.com

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