economy
March 3, 2026
Charter gets FCC permission to buy Cox and become largest ISP in the US
FCC rejects protests because Charter and Cox don’t compete directly in most places.
TL;DR
- Charter Communications has received FCC approval to acquire Cox, positioning it to become the largest U.S. home internet service provider.
- The FCC dismissed competition concerns, arguing that Charter and Cox territories largely do not overlap and that competition from fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite providers is sufficient.
- As a condition for approval, Charter committed to ending DEI programs, a demand emphasized by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
- Critics, including Public Knowledge and the Communications Workers of America, argued that the merger would reduce competition and enable parallel pricing behavior between major ISPs like Charter and Comcast.
- The California Public Utilities Commission's Public Advocates Office noted that Charter and Cox do overlap in some areas, leading to limited choice for high-speed service customers.
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