Charter Gets FCC Permission To Buy Cox, Become Largest ISP In the US (arstechnica.com)
- Reference: 0180888574
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/03/02/1856252/charter-gets-fcc-permission-to-buy-cox-become-largest-isp-in-the-us
- Source link: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/fcc-lets-charter-buy-cox-says-no-reason-to-worry-about-higher-internet-prices/
> Charter Communications, operator of the Spectrum cable brand, has obtained Federal Communications Commission permission to buy Cox and [1]surpass Comcast as the country's largest home Internet service provider . Charter has [2]29.7 million residential and business Internet customers compared to Comcast's 31.26 million. Buying Cox will give Charter another [3]5.9 million Internet customers . The FCC [4]approved the deal on Friday, but the companies still need Justice Department approval and sign-offs from states including California and New York.
>
> Opponents of Charter's [5]$34.5 billion acquisition told the FCC that eliminating Cox as an independent entity will make it easier for Charter and Comcast to raise prices. But the FCC dismissed those concerns on the grounds that Charter and Cox don't compete directly against each other in the vast majority of their territories.
>
> FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's primary demand from companies seeking to merge has been to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and policies. In a [6]press release (PDF), the Carr-led FCC said that "Charter has committed to new safeguards to protect against DEI discrimination," and that Charter's network-expansion plans will bring "faster broadband and lower prices" to rural areas. The merger was approved one day after Charter sent [7]a letter to Carr outlining its actions to end DEI. Charter offers broadband and cable service in 41 states, while Cox does so in 18 states.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/fcc-lets-charter-buy-cox-says-no-reason-to-worry-about-higher-internet-prices/
[2] https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/charter-announces-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2025-results
[3] https://ir.charter.com/static-files/17f74638-d569-448c-be88-76d00f9c6fff
[4] https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-approves-charter-cox-combination
[5] https://corporate.charter.com/newsroom/charter-communications-and-cox-communications-announce-definitive-agreement-to-combine-companies
[6] https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-419093A1.pdf
[7] https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1022786738599/1
The biggest problem is us (Score:2)
Because we never complain, and the company lawyers do. If more people would get involved then they wouldn't improve these mergers, when the only people that are speaking are lawywers then they'll push the merger through. Any consumer could recognize that this is going to be bad for them. Mergers never pass on savings to consumers.
Strategy Updates (Score:2)
...and is now enthusiastic about new, innovative methods of squeezing their client base for revenue streams.
you must buy disney channel online and ESPN to get (Score:2)
you must buy disney channel online and ESPN to get internet unless you pay for an business internet plan that starts at 1.5-2.0X the cost of the home plan.
Guessing how this goes ... (Score:1)
> the companies still need Justice Department approval
Someone in the White House is getting another shiny gold trinket/trophy!
"DEI discrimination" (Score:2)
[1]https://diversity.com/post/is-... [diversity.com]
[1] https://diversity.com/post/is-dei-discrimination
And guess what happens next (Score:3)
Dear Customer,
As we merge our operations with Cox Communicats, adjustments will need to be made to our billing practices. Starting on April 1, 2026, there will be an additional $25 integration fee added to your bill. This will continue for a period of six months after which this fee will be added to your bill on a permanent basis.
This fee will allow us to continue to providing you with the best service possible as we work to merge our operations. Additional fees may be necessary in the near future.
If you wish to dispute this fee, tough shit. There's no one else in your area.
Sincerely,
Charter Communications
We need more, smaller ISPs. Not big ones. (Score:3)
Where I live there is one ISP. Spectrum. The cost of 1Gbit service is $129 a month. The service sucks. It's always having outages.
Where my brother lives, they have both AT&T and Spectrum. Both carries offer internet for $59 a month to his house.
We need more ISPs. More competition. Less mergers.
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe starlink would be cheaper
Re: (Score:1)
Doubt it, their operating costs are always going to be higher than cables laying in the ground, it will always have lesser total capacity, the latency, even if good, will always be higher and it will always be subject to more interference issues.
The idea that Starlink is anything close to a replacement for a dedicated fiber line is a pipe dream. It can both be a marvel of technology with amazing capabilities and providing amazing service for people who need it and still not be comparable to dedicated fiber
Re: (Score:2)
If it's broadband speeds and cheaper than Spectrum but has higher uptime, I'd think that would be acceptable. If fiber is part of the requirements, then starlink isn't an option, I just don't know that it's a requirement.