Charter-Cox $34.5B Merger Approved: Charter Passes Comcast

Charter Overtakes Comcast as Largest U.S. Provider Following $34.5B Cox Merger Approval

Regulators grant final approval for the massive acquisition, creating a new industry leader with 38 million subscribers across the country.

Marcus J. Delany

Mar 5, 2026, 4:56 PM PT · 2 min read

Charter Communications branded Versalift Ford F-450 Super Duty bucket truck — Photo via Wikimedia Commons

THE RUNDOWN

FCC and Connecticut regulators approved Charter’s $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox.
The merged company becomes the largest U.S. provider with 38 million subscribers.
Charter officially surpasses Comcast as the nation's top broadband and cable giant.
The unanimous Connecticut approval was finalized on March 3, 2026.
Charter will maintain its primary corporate headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

Move over, Comcast—there is a new heavyweight champion in the American cable world. Charter Communications is set to finalize its massive $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications after clearing major regulatory hurdles this week. On February 27, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted formal approval for the deal, which was quickly followed by a unanimous green light from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

The blockbuster merger creates the largest cable and broadband provider in the United States, serving an estimated 36 to 38 million subscribers. By absorbing the Atlanta-based Cox Communications, Charter effectively leapfrogs Comcast to take the top spot in the industry. According to reports from the Hartford Business Journal, Charter secured local support by pledging to maintain its global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, ensuring the state remains a central hub for the newly expanded telecommunications giant.

While the deal signals a massive shift in market power, it also promises a unified infrastructure for millions of households. Industry experts at Broadband Communities noted that the integration of Cox’s assets will allow Charter to accelerate its high-speed fiber rollouts across the Southwest and East Coast. With major approvals secured as of March 2026, the transition is expected to begin immediately, marking the end of Cox’s run as the nation’s largest privately-owned cable company.