The FCC has approved Charter Communications’ $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprises, Inc.’s cable, fiber, and IT and cloud businesses.
The two companies announced their merger agreement in May 2025. The merger, fueled by declining cable customer numbers and the rise in cord cutting, got shareholder approval in July. While there was opposition to the proposed deal, the two companies filed with the FCC a reply to the comments and opposition to the petition to deny the merger in December.
Now that the FCC has approved the deal, the combined company will use the Cox name and the Spectrum branding for the consumer market, becoming the largest residential Internet Service Provider in the market. Charter will indirectly control residential broadband, video, mobile, and voice businesses, as well as its advertising and enterprise businesses.
“By approving this deal, the FCC ensures big wins for Americans,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “This deal means that jobs are coming back to America that had been shipped overseas. It means that modern, high-speed networks will get built out in more communities across rural America. And it means that customers will get access to lower priced plans. On top of this, the deal enshrines protections against DEI discrimination.”
Charter has committed to upgrading its network for both homes and businesses. Through the Charter Rural Construction Initiative, the newly combined business has plans to expand service in rural areas in the U.S. The company has also committed to bringing jobs currently handled off-shore by Cox back to the U.S. within 18 months. Those jobs will have a $20 per hour minimum starting wage and benefits.