Benton Institute for Broadband & Society - Cox

Cox Continues Commitment to Digital Equity with Low-Cost Internet as Federal Government ACP Closes

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:55:32 +0000

The projected end of the federal government's ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) will leave many low–income households looking for affordable internet options. Nearly 23 million people nationwide rely on the $30 subsidy ($75 for tribal land) to defray the cost of internet service or secure internet service for free. Unfortunately, the federal government has only funded ACP through April and is expected to lapse in May. Since the beginning of 2024, Cox has been reaching out to customers impacted by the loss of ACP to ensure they are aware of available affordable internet plans and customizable offers. For more than a decade, Cox has championed digital equity for qualifying low-income households through the following programs and initiatives:

Connect2Compete Internet Plan - a $9.95 per month service for families with a child in grades K-12 in the home, who participate in the National School Lunch Program or other select federal programs such as SNAP.
ConnectAssist Internet Plan – a $30 per month service for low-income households that participate in select government programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, Public Housing, Pell Grant and others. This program is available to all Cox customers currently receiving the ACP benefit as well as those who meet the eligibility criteria for ACP.
All Cox-sponsored internet programs feature no credit checks, no deposit and no Wi-Fi modem rental fees. Further, customers will enjoy unlimited data and access to 4 million Wi-Fi hotspots.
Customers can choose to enhance their digital proficiency through the Cox Digital Academy, as well as access discounted personal computers.

Benton Content:

https://newsroom.cox.com/2024-04-24-COX-CONTINUES-COMMITMENT-TO-DIGITAL-EQUITY-W…

Teaser:

Cox has multiple low-cost offers to ensure people stay connected to high-speed internet, including $9.95/month for qualifying households

Source:

Cox

Send date:

Fri, 04/26/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 4/25/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 04/25/2024

Coverage Type:

Press Release

Agenda

Upcoming policy issue

Federal Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Broadband Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program (was Emergency Broadband Benefit Program)

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Legislation

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Level of Government

Federal

Marginalized Populations

Low-income

3 Ways High-Speed Internet Enriches Lives of Rural Americans

zwalker@benton.org — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 22:15:58 +0000

High-speed internet is something we count on to function day to day. The service elevates the lives and livelihoods of Americans whose broadband needs have been previously unmet. The 2023 Cox Expansion Impact Survey found 86 percent of consumer respondents with recently available high-speed internet said their lives have improved. This report outlines three ways that high-speed internet enriches the lives of rural Americans:

Younger people are more likely to remain in their communities when there’s a highspeed internet connection at home.
High-speed internet drives local economic prosperity.
A high-speed internet connection at home helps bridge the income and education gap.

The internet is a tie that binds people and communities together: four out of five respondents say they are better connected to friends and family because of their new highspeed internet connection. High-speed internet access is crucial for rural residents’ quality of life.

Benton Content:

https://www.coxexpansionimpact.com/EBOOK_Expansion_Impact.pdf

Teaser:

Previously underserved communities share insights and benefits the internet brings to their small-town markets

Source:

Cox

Send date:

Fri, 02/02/2024

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 2/1/2024

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 02/01/2024

Coverage Type:

Research

Health and Media

Impact of various media on health

Health Information Technology

Marginalized Populations

Individuals who primarily Reside in a Rural Area

Research

Cox Helps People Connect to the Internet through Emergency Connectivity Fund

Grace Tepper — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 22:10:15 +0000

Cox Communications is working with local schools and libraries to help provide internet service through the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) to help people get connected to what matters most. The ECF program is open to students, educational staff and library patrons who would otherwise lack a sufficient connection to the internet for remote learning and remote library services. ECF will provide funding to schools and libraries to deliver internet services to individuals and families they determine need an internet connection. For those receiving program approval, Cox's ECF offering will equip customers with internet service with speeds of 50 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload and a wifi modem. The ECF program will subsidize costs for internet and equipment that the FCC determines are reasonable. Cox's ECF offering will cost (per household) a one-time $20 equipment charge and $30 per month for internet service, with no term agreement, no deposit, and access to over 3 million Cox Hotspots nationwide until June 30, 2022.

Benton Content:

https://newsroom.cox.com/2021-08-12-Cox-Helps-People-Connect-to-the-Internet-thr…

Teaser:

Cox Communications is working with local schools and libraries to help provide internet service through the FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund.

Source:

Cox

Send date:

Fri, 08/13/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 8/12/2021

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Thu, 08/12/2021

Coverage Type:

Cox interested in participating in Emergency Broadband Benefit

benton — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 22:02:28 +0000

Cox urges the Federal Communications Commission to consider the following principles in adopting rules to effectuate the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program: (1) allow customers to apply the benefit to their existing broadband service or other broadband service of their choice; (2) maximize consumers’ opportunities to select service from the providers of their choice; and (3) provide benefit certainty for consumers and providers regarding the termination of the program. On item #2, Cox thinks the FCC should:

make clear that eligible telecommunications carriers (“ETCs”) may serve as participating providers in the Emergency Broadband Benefit program throughout their service footprints even if providers do not hold ETC status in all of its footprint
allow consumers to choose their EBB provider by requiring consumers to affirmatively elect to participate in a provider’s EBB Program; providers should not be permitted to automatically enroll customers
streamline the qualification process, and
facilitate participation by making clear that the Emergency Broadband Benefit program is a federal one.

Benton Content:

https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10204140617934/Cox%20EBB%20letter%202.4.21.pdf

Teaser:

Offers consumer-focused steps to implement the program

Source:

Cox

Author:

Jenny Prime

Send date:

Tue, 02/09/2021

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 2/8/2021

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 02/08/2021

Coverage Type:

Analysis

Digital Divide

Internet/Broadband

Affordability/Cost/Price

Universal Broadband

Headlines Specific Topic:

Coronavirus and Connectivity

Cox Expands Commitment to Bridging the Learning Divide, Provides Additional Support for Kids and Families Learning from Home

Robbie McBeath — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 14:40:47 +0000

Cox announced an expanded commitment to bridging the learning divide as part of its ongoing effort to support kids and families learning and teaching from home during the coronavirus pandemic. Through June 30, 2021 Cox is suspending late fees and extending payment relief offerings for customers in the company's low-cost internet program Connect2Compete who express an inability to pay due to pandemic hardships.

Benton Content:

https://newsroom.cox.com/2020-08-20-Cox-Expands-Commitment-to-Bridging-the-Learn…

Teaser:

No late fees, extended payment relief offerings help low-income customers stay connected

Source:

Cox

Send date:

Mon, 08/24/2020

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 8/21/2020

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Sun, 08/23/2020

Coverage Type:

Headlines Specific Topic:

Coronavirus and Connectivity

Families Report Internet At Home Results In Higher Grades And Improved Graduation Readiness, Cox Raises Commitment To Bridge Digital Divide With $20 Million Pledge

Robbie McBeath — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:03:01 +0000

Cox Communications announced the overwhelmingly positive results of a survey of Connect2Compete program participants, a program designed for low-income families in need of internet access at home. The vast majority of parents agree low-cost internet service at home gives children a leg up for high school graduation (91 percent) and helps students get higher grades (89 percent). During a press conference in Washington (DC), Cox President Pat Esser also announced Cox is expanding its commitment to bridge the digital divide with a commitment of $20 million annually. Joined by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai and Founder of EveryoneOn, Zach Leverenz, Esser revealed the company surpassed a significant program milestone and is expanding its commitment to bridge the digital divide during the press event. To date, more than 400,000 people have been connected to the internet via the Connect2Compete program and the company continues to invest in the program.

Benton Content:

http://newsroom.cox.com/2018-10-01-Families-Report-Internet-At-Home-Results-In-H…

Teaser:

Cox President Pat Esser also announced Cox is expanding its commitment to bridge the digital divide with a commitment of $20 million annually.

Source:

Cox

Send date:

Tue, 10/02/2018

Daily Digest:

Daily Digest 10/1/2018

DD Publish Status:

Not Available

Include summary in newsletter email:

Publish Date:

Mon, 10/01/2018

Coverage Type:

Cox Communications Closes Digital Divide with Connect2Compete Broadband Adoption Program

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 18:15:34 +0000

Cox Communications announced a two-year extension of its participation in Connect2Compete, the broadband adoption program that offers discounted high speed Internet service to low-income families with children who qualify for the National School Lunch Program.

Cox pledged $15 million in support of broadband adoption initiatives through 2016.

http://cox.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=778

Source:

Cox

Author:

press release

Send date:

Thu, 08/21/2014

Publish Date:

Wed, 08/20/2014

Coverage Type:

Lauren Frayer