The FCC has signed off on Charter Communications’ $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Enterprise.
The mega merger, announced in May 2025, will see Charter, the second-largest cable company in the US, acquire Cox, another of the largest cable companies, with six million subscribers. The combined entity will take the Cox name and use the Spectrum brand name for the consumer market.
Under the agreement, Charter will indirectly control Cox’s residential broadband, video, mobile and voice businesses; Its advertising and institutional work; Its companies are Segra, UPN, and RapidScale. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicates that the combined company will invest billions of dollars to upgrade its network and provide high-speed service to homes and businesses across the country, including bringing the Internet to rural areas.
“By approving this deal, the FCC is ensuring significant gains for Americans. This deal means jobs will return to America that were shipped offshore. It means modern, high-speed networks will be built in more communities across rural America. It means customers will have access to lower-priced plans. Moreover, the deal provides for protections against DEI discrimination,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
According to the FCC, Charter also agreed to move all job functions currently handled by Cox offshore within 18 months, and committed to expanding benefits and pay policies, including a starting minimum wage of $20 per hour, to Cox workers.
In addition, all employees will have access to Trump “Invest in America” accounts and other opportunities to invest and grow.
While the Trump administration has cracked down on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the country, the FCC says the charter “commits to recruiting, hiring, and promoting individuals based on the factors that matter most: skills, qualifications, and experience.”
