The FCC has approved Charter Communications' $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, creating one of the largest cable and broadband providers in the United States.
The deal, first announced in May 2025, combines Charter (known for its Spectrum brand) with Cox's residential broadband, video, mobile, voice, advertising, and enterprise operations. The merged company will operate under the Cox name but retain the Spectrum brand for consumer services, surpassing competitors to become the nation's largest residential internet service provider with tens of millions of subscribers and broad coverage across dozens of states.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr hailed the approval as delivering major benefits for Americans. In a statement, Carr emphasized that the transaction will expand connectivity and economic opportunities in rural America through increased infrastructure investment, keep jobs based in the United States, provide customers with access to lower-priced plans, and include safeguards against what he described as “DEI discrimination” — referring to protections and commitments related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that the agency framed as preventing discriminatory practices.
While the FCC has now cleared the merger, the deal still requires approvals from state regulators and the U.S. Department of Justice. Industry observers note minimal geographic overlap between the companies and ongoing competition from streaming services, mobile providers, and fiber alternatives, which supported the competitive analysis.
This consolidation comes amid declining traditional cable subscriptions and rising cord-cutting trends, positioning the combined entity to better compete in a shifting media and broadband landscape.