Cox Extends ‘Connect2Compete’ to HUD-Assisted Homes

Cox Communications said it is backing the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) ConnectHome initiative by extending the company’s Connect2Compete low-cost broadband offering to to any HUD-assisted household with school-age children in Cox's 18-state service area. Cox said it’s the first Internet service provider tied to ConnectHome umbrella to extend such an offering via its national footprint, estimating that the investment from Cox has the potential to help nearly 250,000 students who live in HUD-assisted homes. Cox said more than 160,000 people have been connected to the Internet through Cox's Connect2Compete plan since 2012.

Connect2Compete service is $9.95 per month for eligible families, supporting downstream speeds up 10 Mbps, free in-home Wi-Fi, free installation and free access to hotspots deployed by Cox and other members of the Cable Wi-Fi consortium. Cox president Pat Esser and HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced it April 14 in Phoenix (AZ). "Internet access is critical to education, job hunting, shopping and utilizing city services in the 21st century," said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. "I applaud this public-private partnership because we cannot afford to let any students and families in our community become marginalized because they lack access to the web."