Cox Sued Over Dark Patterns

Cox is suddenly fighting fires on multiple fronts: a proposed class action lawsuit alleges the company traps customers in hard-to-cancel subscriptions, forcing them to call rather than click to cancel online. If the case goes forward, it could force Cox to make digital cancellations less painful—potentially driving up customer churn and sending shockwaves through its retention strategy. The stakes go beyond a single settlement: if Cox has been quietly propping up its numbers with cancellation friction, a mandated overhaul could set a precedent for the industry, especially as states push for stricter "click-to-cancel" rules.

But here’s the catch: while Cox wrestles with lawsuits, a much bigger fight is brewing over TV ownership limits. Major cable groups, including Cox, are preparing to sue the FCC after its move to repeal the national cap that keeps any one company from controlling more than 39% of U.S. TV households. If the cap falls, big broadcasters could consolidate and demand higher carriage fees, squeezing cable profits or forcing customers to swallow bigger bills. The legal scramble could freeze—or supercharge—this trend, depending on how the courts rule.

Meanwhile, i3 Broadband is quietly wiring up streets in Bristol, Rhode Island, backed by a $700 million T-Mobile joint venture. Today, it’s a microbuild; tomorrow, it could signal a real threat, especially if T-Mobile starts bundling fiber and mobile service to lure customers from Cox and Spectrum. Featuring reporting from Law360, Ars Technica, and Uprise RI.

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