Charter Franchise Case Is Denied Review

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Charter Communications Inc. and its chairman, billionaire Paul Allen, in a dispute over its franchise in Santa Cruz County.

Charter, the third-largest U.S. cable TV operator, said the county unlawfully barred Allen from taking control of its local franchise. It said the county set excessive requirements that violated its free-speech rights and a federal cable TV law.

The Bush administration had urged the court to deny review and leave a lower court ruling intact.

The justices made no comment in refusing to hear the company’s appeal.