Cox Communications

Cox Communications, Inc.
Company type	Private subsidiary
Industry	Telecommunications, Cable television, Home automation
Founded	1962
Founder	Cox Enterprises
Headquarters	Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Mark Greatrex (CEO), James C. Kennedy (Chairman)
Products	Cable TV, High-speed broadband Internet, VoIP telephony, Wireless communications, Home security systems, Business solutions, Gigablast fiber-optic Internet
Owner	Cox Enterprises
Number of employees	20,000 (2020)
Parent	Cox Enterprises

Cox Communications, Inc.—often referred to as Cox Cable—is a prominent American provider specializing in digital cable television, telecommunications, and home automation solutions. Ranking as the third-largest cable television operator in the United States, it serves approximately 6.5 million customers. Additionally, Cox stands as the seventh-largest telephone service provider nationwide, with around 3.5 million Internet users and close to 3.2 million subscribers to its digital phone services. The company’s headquarters are situated in Sandy Springs, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan region. Operating as a privately held subsidiary under Cox Enterprises, Cox Communications generated roughly US$11 billion in revenue in 2016 and employed nearly 20,000 individuals by 2020. Its diverse offerings encompass cable TV, high-speed broadband Internet, VoIP telephony, wireless communications, home security systems, business-oriented solutions, and Gigablast fiber-optic Internet services. Leadership includes CEO Mark Greatrex and Chairman James C. Kennedy.

History

Cox Enterprises made its initial foray into the cable television sector in 1962 through acquisitions of systems in Pennsylvania, followed by expansions into California, Oregon, and Washington. The company’s subsidiary, originally named Cox Broadcasting Corporation, was launched as a publicly traded entity in 1964 before being rebranded as Cox Communications in 1982 and subsequently taken private by Cox Enterprises in 1985.

In 1993, Cox became a pioneer among multi-system cable operators by introducing telecommunications services tailored for businesses, which propelled Cox Business to reach $1 billion in annual revenue. After acquiring Times-Mirror’s cable assets in 1995, Cox Communications returned to public markets. By 1997, it had become the first multi-system operator to provide telephone services following the enactment of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The company further expanded its footprint through acquisitions such as Media General’s cable operations in Virginia (1999) and Multimedia Cablevision (2000), broadening its presence across multiple states.

In 2004, Fairfax County imposed a fine on Cox due to delays in deploying its fiber optic infrastructure but barred the company from raising rates to offset this penalty. That same year marked Cox’s decision to revert to private ownership again, completing this transition by 2005. Shortly thereafter, the company divested several regional systems to Cebridge Communications (which later became Suddenlink), thereby streamlining its operational focus.

Cox divested its interest in Discovery Communications for $1.3 billion in 2007 to concentrate on its core telecommunications business. The company gained recognition for its commitment to diversity by ranking sixth on DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2008.

By 2010, Cox had ventured into wireless service provision within select markets and began investing in sustainable energy initiatives with fuel cell installations at its corporate headquarters starting in 2011. The introduction of the Contour TV platform came in 2013, followed by adoption of Comcast’s Xfinity X1 technology by 2016, enhancing consumer offerings significantly.

Cox Business reported revenues reaching $3 billion by 2016. In 2018, the acquisition of RapidScale bolstered its managed cloud services capabilities by integrating transport and connectivity solutions. Continuing this strategic focus on cloud services, Cox acquired Logicworks—a New York-based cloud company—in 2023.

On May 16, 2025, Cox announced a merger agreement with Charter Communications valued at $34.5 billion. The merged organization will retain the Cox Communications name while adopting Charter’s Spectrum brand for consumer-facing services. Cox Enterprises will maintain a 23% ownership stake and serve as Charter’s principal long-term capital partner, representing a major consolidation within the telecommunications sector.

Additional business divisions

Cox Business: Provides enterprise-level video, voice, and Internet solutions.
Cox Media: Division dedicated to advertising sales.
Travel Media, Inc. (Divested): Previously owned a 35% interest in Travel Channel and TravelChannel.com through a partnership with Scripps Networks.

Cox Charitable Initiatives

Cox Communications Virginia founded Cox Charities to allocate yearly grants to nonprofit organizations that emphasize youth education in areas such as science, technology, literacy, and mentoring. During 2016-2017, a total of $150,000 was distributed among 15 nonprofits, including An Achievable Dream, ForKids, Horizons Hampton Roads, and The Salvation Army - Hampton Roads Area Command.

Other branches of Cox Communications also participate via Community Investment Grant programs supported by employee contributions. These grants benefit 501(c)(3) entities tackling education, technology, social challenges, and the arts across various states such as Oklahoma (almost $165,000 in 2017), Arkansas (close to $100,000), Nebraska and Iowa (nearly $90,000), as well as the Southeast region covering parts of Louisiana, Florida's Gulf Coast, Central Florida, and Middle Georgia.

Privatization History

In 2004, Cox Enterprises completed a $6.6 billion tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Cox Communications, thereby converting it into a fully owned subsidiary. This event marked the second occasion on which Cox Communications was privatized under the ownership of Cox Enterprises.

Cox Cable Television

Cox delivers both standard and high-definition cable TV services, including Digital Cable. The company introduced Digital Cable initially in Orange County in 1997 and started rolling out switched digital video (SDV) technology in selected markets by 2008. By 2014, customers in Connecticut were transitioned to an All Digital Video system necessitating a digital adapter known as the "Cox Mini-Box," with this conversion extending to additional major regions by 2016.

Digital Video Recorder

Cox provides digital video recorder (DVR) options utilizing hardware from Motorola, Scientific-Atlanta, Cisco, or previously Moxi units depending on the location.

On Demand

The On Demand platform is accessible in most service areas and features a uniform interface offering HD programming, reruns of network series, and VODnets such as The Ski Channel.

Cox High-Speed Internet

As of 2013, Cox served over 21.8 million customers with cable internet across 18 states, ranking fourth among U.S. cable internet providers by coverage area.

Internet service is offered in five tiers: Starter (10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload), Essential (50/3 Mbps), Preferred (150/10 Mbps), Ultimate (300/500/10 Mbps), and Gigablast (900/35 Mbps via coaxial cable; 1000/1000 Mbps via fiber). Select markets have financial aid programs like Straight Up and Connect 2 Compete. Cox initiated high-speed Internet services in 1996 and adopted Comcast’s PowerBoost technology for premium tiers in 2007.

All packages include monthly data caps with fees applied for overages. In 2011, Cox introduced a data usage meter to assist customers in tracking their consumption. The FCC’s "Measuring Broadband America" report from that year indicated Cox delivered approximately 83.4% of advertised speeds on connections exceeding 3 Mbps. Additionally, residential customers are prevented from receiving incoming traffic on port 80, restricting web server hosting capabilities.

Cox High-Speed Internet received PC Magazine Readers' Choice Awards in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2011. In 2014, Cox launched its "G1GABLAST" gigabit service in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Omaha with expansion plans by 2016 alongside complimentary speed increases for all subscribers.

In autumn 2016, Panoramic WiFi was introduced in San Diego, Orange County, and Santa Barbara before being rolled out nationally in June 2017.

Cox Digital Telephone

Cox offers telephone services throughout most of its coverage areas, employing a combination of circuit-switched and hybrid VoIP technologies depending on the location. The company has earned several J.D. Power and Associates accolades for the quality of its telephone services, strengthening its competitive position in the telecommunications sector.

Cox Homelife

Initially launched in 2010 as a pilot program in Tucson, Arizona, Cox expanded its Home Automation and Security offerings across the state by 2011. This service was later renamed Cox Homelife. By December 2014, Cox Homelife had been rolled out to Louisiana, highlighting the company’s deliberate expansion into smart home solutions within its key markets.

Cox Business

Serving more than 260,000 small and regional enterprises—including healthcare providers, educational organizations, financial institutions, and government bodies—Cox Business delivers comprehensive voice, data, and video solutions. It ranks as the fourth-largest Ethernet business service provider in the United States by customer ports and has consistently achieved high rankings in J.D. Power evaluations for small and mid-sized business data services.

In the third quarter of 2013, Cox Business generated $1.2 billion in revenue, placing it third among cable companies serving business clients. As a pioneer in Voice over IP technology, Cox was the first cable operator in North America to introduce a fully managed IP telephony platform for businesses with the 2007 launch of Cox Business VoiceManager. The company also planned to offer Managed IP PBX, SIP Trunking, and IP Centrex services to improve voice traffic management. By 2013, Cox Business supported more than 800,000 business phone lines, emphasizing its significant market presence and growth within telecommunications.

Defunct Cox Wireless

Cox formerly provided mobile phone and wireless services in four U.S. regions: Orange County (California), Hampton Roads (Virginia), Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), and Omaha (Nebraska). Its wireless offering, marketed under the name 'Unbelievably Fair,' included "Moneyback Minutes," which allowed customers to receive up to $20 each month for unused minutes. The device lineup featured models from Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Kyocera, and LG.

The network operated using Sprint’s voice and 3G infrastructure with intentions to develop its own 4G LTE network. However, on May 24, 2011, Cox announced it would discontinue plans to build a 3G network and instead transition to becoming a Sprint MVNO in half of its coverage area by year-end.

By November 15, 2011, Cox halted all wireless product sales and fully shut down its branded wireless services by March 30, 2012. The company also abandoned its plans to resell Sprint’s service as an MVNO.

News Corporation Dispute

On January 1, 2000, Cox became involved in a retransmission consent conflict with News Corporation, owner of the Fox broadcast network. Negotiations broke down when Fox requested two digital cable channel slots as a condition for retransmission rights. As a result, Cox removed four Fox-owned stations—WJW-TV (Cleveland), KTBC (Austin), KRIV (Houston), and KDFW (Dallas-Fort Worth)—alongside WHBQ-TV (Memphis) from its cable lineup in those markets.

This blackout impacted roughly 425,000 Cox subscribers and persisted for six days until an agreement was reached on January 6 that restored the channels. During this period, Cox temporarily substituted these stations with Starz! Family at no additional charge to customers and issued $1 bill credits in January to about 90,000 subscribers across Texas and Arkansas as compensation.

LIN TV-Cox conflict

Often associated with the "Cox vs Fox" dispute, the Fox affiliate WVBT (channel 43), owned by LIN TV, was removed from Cox's Hampton Roads, Virginia lineup on January 1, 2000. The breakdown in retransmission talks stemmed from WVBT's request to relocate from channel 43 to a position between channels 2 and 14, which Cox declined. During the blackout period, Cox substituted WVBT with the premium channel HBO Family. After a ten-hour arbitration session, the station resumed broadcasting on February 5, retaining its original channel slot. Notably, Cox did not issue refunds to its 335,000 subscribers in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Cleveland, Ohio, who also lost access to Fox affiliates.

Nexstar disagreement

On January 29, 2016, Cox ceased carrying seventeen stations owned by Nexstar Broadcasting following unsuccessful negotiations to renew their retransmission contract, which expired on December 31, 2015. Discussions continued until January 22 but concluded without an agreement. Cox replaced the Nexstar stations with a message accusing Nexstar of seeking a "substantial fee increase." In Las Vegas, where local CBS affiliate KLAS-TV was affected—raising concerns over a potential blackout of Super Bowl 50—Cox provided a complimentary preview of the game's Spanish-language broadcast via ESPN Deportes for the weekend. The dispute was resolved on February 4 when Cox and Nexstar finalized a new contract and restored the stations.

Neighborhood-wide speed reductions

In 2020, Cox implemented reductions in upstream bandwidth speeds across entire neighborhoods, lowering rates from 35 Mbit/s to 10 Mbit/s after detecting excessive consumption by individual users, which impacted overall network performance.

BMG Rights Management

On December 17, 2015, a federal jury found Cox responsible for willful contributory copyright infringement based on its subscribers' actions and ordered $25 million in damages payable to BMG. This verdict was affirmed by the presiding judge in August 2016, along with an additional $8.5 million awarded for legal fees. Cox appealed the decision; in February 2018, the Fourth Circuit Court overturned the $25 million damages due to flawed jury instructions but upheld that Cox forfeited safe harbor protections because it lacked an effective repeat infringer policy. Prior to a retrial in August 2018, Cox and BMG reached a confidential settlement.

Sony Music and others

On July 31, 2018, a lawsuit totaling $1 billion was filed against Cox by 53 record labels—including Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group—in the same court and before the same judge as the BMG case. The jury ruled against Cox on December 19, 2019, awarding $1 billion to the plaintiffs. On June 2, 2020, the judge upheld this verdict but determined that damages should be calculated per individual work rather than per copyright due to complexities such as mashups. However, on January 12, 2021, the court reinstated the full $1 billion award because Cox had not raised this issue during trial. Cox filed an appeal with the Fourth Circuit on May 24, 2021. While awaiting resolution, Cox submitted a motion on December 27, 2021, alleging that evidence concealed during a related case against Charter Communications had come to light; this motion was denied on March 23, 2022. The appeal decision remains outstanding.

Marketing

Cox has employed unique fictional personas in its promotional efforts to highlight its offerings. Between 2005 and 2008, the company featured an animated character called "Digital Max" as its spokesperson. After retiring Digital Max, Cox introduced the "Digeez," a group of digital assistants, which were showcased in advertisements up until 2013. Most recently, in 2023, Cox Mobile launched a new campaign centered around a CGI sheep named Annie.

MLB

NFL

NBA

NHL

College sports

Esports

Atlanta Reign

External links

Official website
Cox HSI & CATV support forum (Registration required)