FCC Approves Charter-Cox Combination

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau approved Charter Communications’ $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprises, Inc.’s residential cable, commercial fiber, and managed IT and cloud businesses.  As approved by the FCC, the resulting combination will provide significant benefits to Americans, including in rural parts of the country, from increased investment in rural infrastructure builds to more job opportunities on U.S. soil and anti-discrimination protections. Charter will invest to upgrade its network and deliver high-speed service to homes and businesses across the country.  Charter will onshore all of the job functions currently handled off-shore by Cox within 18 months, matching Charter’s own, longstanding commitment to a 100% U.S.-based customer sales and service employee workforce.  Charter has also committed to extending its industry leading jobs practices, including a $20/hour minimum starting wage, to Cox workers.  All employees receive full benefits, including “Invest in America” Trump accounts and opportunities for investment and growth.  Charter has committed to new safeguards to protect against DEI discrimination and has reaffirmed the merged entity’s commitment to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination.  Specifically, Charter commits to recruiting, hiring, and promoting individuals based on the factors that matter most: skills, qualifications, and experience.