The FCC just approved Cox’s $34.5 billion buyout. Here’s what that means for 37 million customers

Two of the largest Internet service providers in the United States are set to merge, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced its approval of Charter’s $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications on Friday afternoon.

Charter, which sells phone, Internet and television services under range Brand, I agreed to buy cox In May 2025. The deal will create a larger Internet provider In the country, where Cox’s 6.5 million customers join Charter’s 31 million.

while Internet monopolies It’s a big problem in the United States — more than a third of Americans have access to only one internet provider or none — and this acquisition won’t necessarily make the problem worse. That’s because Charter and Cox did Very little overlap In the areas where they work.

“No consumer is going to lose a competitive offer that they currently have,” Blair Levin, former FCC chief of staff and telecommunications industry analyst at New Street Research, tells CNET. “There is no reduction in competition in any market for geographically related products.”

the FCC announcement. He doesn’t specify when Cox customers will move to Spectrum, but it could be a welcome change for many. Cox received a score of 68/100 in the latest US Customer Satisfaction Index survey, while Spectrum received a score of 71/100.

However, A CNET Analysis Of the internet plans I found that Spectrum’s price increases were steeper, with Spectrum increasing prices by an average of $37 per month after a year or two, depending on location. Cox’s plans increased by $28 per month, but only after two years.

Some critics argued that the FCC should have done more to help consumers before granting approval to the charter.

“The FCC approved the largest cable merger in nearly a decade and didn’t ask Charter to do anything it wasn’t already planning to do,” John Bergmeier, legal director at the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, said. He said in a statement. “As always, consumers will bear the costs of reduced competition.”

As part of the approval process, Charter agreed to transfer all of Cox’s overseas jobs to America within 18 months. According to a post on its websiteCharter says it has a 100% US-based workforce as of December 31, 2025.