California Squeezes Charter–Cox Deal

A Supreme Court decision just gave ISPs like Cox a major break, slashing legal risk for copyright infringement and shifting the battleground from the courtroom to Congress. The new rule: ISPs are only liable if they actually intend their service to be used for piracy, not just because they know some customers might infringe. That means lower costs and less risk for Cox, Grande, and even Verizon—for now. But lawmakers, led by Senators Tillis and Lofgren, are moving to require ISPs to block pirate sites, so the policy fight is ramping up fast.

Meanwhile, California is the last hurdle standing in the $34.5 billion Cox–Charter merger—even after the FCC and other states signed off with price, investment, and diversity conditions. The CPUC is considering price caps and stronger consumer protections, with hearings set for late April. If California locks in price limits or tougher build milestones, it could squeeze the combined company’s profits and slow integration, all while a September 15 deadline and $2.5 million in extra fees loom if approval slips.

Featuring insights from American Enterprise Institute and real-world signals—from refund scams to regulatory pressure points—that could shape the deal’s final terms and future customer protections.

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