This op-ed was originally published in the Orange County Register.
The Charter-Cox merger just cleared a key hurdle in California. An administrative law judge overseeing the merger proceeding between Charter and Cox in California has recommended the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approve the deal with some conditions attached. Approval by the CPUC would be a step forward for California consumers.
Judge Jamie Ormond proposed 20 modifications to settlement agreements and five additional conditions. The stipulations include providing rental equipment for low-income customers, funding of existing community investment programs for 10 years at the current level, and an $8.5 million performance bond.
CableFax reported that CPUC Commissioner Matthew Baker has suggested a different proposal to approve the deal with only minor adjustments to the settlements that Charter already negotiated with the state public advocates office (Cal Advocates) and the California Emerging Technology Fund.
The smarter path is Baker’s. Charter already negotiated settlements with the Public Advocates Office and the California Emerging Technology Fund, the very organizations tasked with looking out for California consumers. Those agreements secured real commitments on pricing, service, and community investment. Layering on new mandates after the fact punishes companies for negotiating in good faith and signals to future investors that no deal with California regulators is ever final. The CPUC should approve the merger on the terms already agreed to and give consumers what they actually want, which is lower prices and better service, not another year of regulatory limbo.
Charter announced in May 2025 its bid to buy Cox in a $34.5 billion deal, a plan to increase its scale in broadband connectivity and the ability to take on tech giants in video and advertising spaces. The Federal Communications Commission and Department of Justice have already approved the merger, with California as the only stumbling block remaining.
The merger must be completed by September 15, 2026, or Charter would have to restart some of the merger process and pay a $2.5 million filing fee. CPUC plans to vote on the merger at its August meeting.
Charter CFO Jessica Fischer said in recent comments that the company plans to roll out mobile and video integration in a short window after the merger closes. This integration will save consumers money and provide a better cable/mobile/broadband experience.
Fischer has made clear that bundling is job one. The company’s priority after closing is folding mobile and video into a single package with unified pricing, exactly the kind of consolidation that translates into lower bills for households currently paying for those services separately.
