Cox becomes Spectrum following Charter acquisition

Cox customers will soon see a new name on their internet, mobile and television services as Spectrum prepares to launch its brand across former Cox markets. 

Charter Communications announced it has completed its previously announced transaction with Cox Communications, along with its acquisition of Liberty Broadband. The transactions create a combined broadband and video company serving customers across a 45-state Spectrum footprint. 

The change will become more visible to Cox customers beginning in mid-September, when Charter plans to introduce the Spectrum brand, products, pricing and packaging across former Cox markets. 

For customers, the transition will bring access to Spectrum's internet, mobile and television offerings. Spectrum is also offering eligible Cox internet customers who do not already subscribe to Cox Mobile one free year of mobile service. The company said additional Spectrum products and opportunities to save will become available as the transition continues. 

Spectrum's television offerings include Spectrum TV Select plans, which bundle live television with access to several streaming services. Customers can also use the Spectrum TV App to watch live and on-demand programming across supported devices. 

Additional changes are expected over the next year. Spectrum plans to introduce its customer service commitments in former Cox markets, including 24/7 U.S.-based customer service, same-day technician dispatch when requested before 5 p.m. and credits for qualifying service outages lasting more than two hours. 

Over the next 18 months, Spectrum also plans to apply its sales and service workforce model to Cox markets and return Cox's customer service functions fully to the United States. Employees will have access to Spectrum benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, discounted or free Spectrum services and tuition-free undergraduate degree and certificate programs. 

The transaction also combines Spectrum Business with Cox Business, including Segra, Cox's fiber-based commercial and enterprise provider, and RapidScale, its managed cloud services provider. The combined operations are expected to expand services available to businesses throughout Spectrum's footprint. 

While customers will increasingly see the Spectrum name, Cox will not disappear entirely. Within a year of the transaction, Charter plans to change its parent company name to Cox Communications while continuing to operate as Spectrum across all markets. The company will remain headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, while maintaining a significant presence in Atlanta.