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Charter, Cox Request FCC Green Light for $34.5B Merger

By  |  July 17, 2025

Charter Communications and Cox Communications are seeking the green light from federal regulators for a $34.5 billion merger that would create a powerhouse in broadband, mobile, and video services, according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.

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    The two cable providers submitted a joint request to the FCC earlier this week, outlining how the proposed acquisition would allow them to better compete with fast-expanding fiber and fixed wireless providers, per Law360. If approved, the transaction would result in the largest internet service provider in the United States, with a combined footprint of 69.5 million locations and 35.9 million broadband subscribers across residential and commercial markets.

    The companies emphasized the rapid expansion of alternative broadband technologies in their submission, noting that fixed wireless providers now serve at least 38.4 million U.S. locations with advertised speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. “Each nationwide mobile broadband provider can potentially market fixed wireless offerings to a customer base that is more than twice as large as the subscriber base of Charter and Cox combined,” they stated in the filing, as reported by Law360.

    Related: FCC Greenlights Bell Canada’s $3.65 Billion Ziply Fiber Acquisition

    Despite past skepticism of fixed wireless — with Charter CEO Chris Winfrey having previously dismissed it as “cell phone internet” due to speed limitations — the companies now acknowledge its growing role in the broadband market. They argue that the merger would enable them to offer more competitive services and pricing to counter this trend.

    “In this competitive environment, keeping pace means looking for ways to offer consumers more value and better products and services,” Charter and Cox wrote in their joint statement to regulators. “The Transaction will allow the combined company to do exactly that.”

    The merger would also follow recent industry efforts to improve customer satisfaction amid mounting frustration over rising subscription costs. Both Charter and Comcast have launched new pricing initiatives in recent months, aiming to address one of the key factors driving subscriber churn.

    Source: Law360