What happened
Charter Communications, the company behind Spectrum, completed its $34.5 billion purchase of Cox Communications on August 20, 2026. Charter then launched the Spectrum brand, pricing and packages across all former Cox markets on September 16, 2026. Charter has said the parent company will take the name Cox Communications within a year, but the service you buy will keep the Spectrum name in every market.
In plain English: the company that sends your internet bill is the same company that runs Spectrum, and “Cox” is no longer the brand you’ll see on new plans, ads or your app.
Which areas are affected
Every area Cox served is moving to Spectrum. That includes, among others:
| State | Former Cox areas (examples)* |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Phoenix metro, Tucson |
| Nevada | Las Vegas |
| California | San Diego County, south Orange County, Santa Barbara, Palos Verdes |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City, Tulsa |
| Louisiana | New Orleans, Baton Rouge |
| Virginia | Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake) |
| Nebraska, Kansas, Rhode Island | Omaha, Wichita, Providence |
| Florida, Arkansas | Gainesville, Ocala, Pensacola; Northwest Arkansas |
*Cox served parts of each area, not every address. See our Cox page for the full list of states.
What stays the same for current Cox customers
Charter has said the switch happens automatically. According to local reporting on the transition, current customers keep:
- Your service. Internet, TV and phone keep working. There’s no need to reinstall or reconnect.
- Your equipment. Your current modem and router keep working. You don’t need to swap them because of the name change.
- Your current pricing and account. Your existing plan and price continue unless you change your plan or a promotion ends.
You don’t need to call anyone just because of the rebrand. Be careful with calls, texts or emails that claim you must “upgrade” or pay to keep your service because of the merger. If in doubt, contact the company through the phone number on your bill or its official website.
What changes
- The name and the plans. New orders and plan changes now use Spectrum’s internet, TV and mobile packages. If you change your plan, you’ll move to Spectrum’s lineup.
- A mobile offer. Charter said it would offer Cox internet customers who don’t already have Cox Mobile a free Spectrum Mobile line for one year. Ask for the exact terms before you sign up.
- Customer service. Charter says Spectrum offers 24/7 U.S.-based customer service and same-day technician visits when requested before 5 p.m.
- Apps and branding. Expect the Spectrum name on bills, apps and technicians’ vans over time.
What to check now
- Find your promo end date. Look at your bill or account for when any promotional price or price lock ends. That’s the moment your monthly price is most likely to change.
- Ask for the broadband label. Every plan has an FCC broadband “nutrition label” showing the monthly price after promotions, typical speeds and fees. Compare it with other providers’ labels.
- Check your email address. If you use a cox.net email address, ask how it will be handled before you cancel or change service, and make sure important accounts use an email you control.
- Review your bundle. If you have TV, home phone or Cox Mobile, ask how your package maps to Spectrum’s plans before you change anything.
- Keep receipts for returned equipment. If you do switch providers, return any rented equipment and keep the tracking number until your final bill is clear.
Should you switch providers?
There’s no need to switch just because of the name change. But a big change like this is a good time to compare, especially when your promotion is ending. Depending on your street, former Cox areas may also have:
- Fiber from AT&T or a local company, with faster uploads than cable. See our fiber vs cable guide.
- 5G home internet from T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T Internet Air.
- Satellite from Starlink in rural areas. See our Starlink guide.
Not sure what speed you need? Our speed guide helps you avoid paying for more than you use. Living in Southern California? Our California internet guide shows who serves each region. Or let a specialist do the comparison: share your address and we’ll check Spectrum and every other provider that serves it, for free.
Compare Spectrum with other providers in former Cox areas
Depending on your street, former Cox areas may also have AT&T Fiber, 5G home internet, EarthLink or Starlink. Tap a provider to learn more, or check your address and we’ll compare them all.
