2010s
2011 Cox, after experimenting with the launch of its own wireless
product, announces co-marketing agreement with Verizon
Wireless to provide easy customer access to wireless services.
2000s
2009 Cox completes EON (extended optical
network) upgrade, increasing systems’
capacity to 1 Gigahertz. Is named Operator
of the Year by Multichannel News.
2008 Cox rolls out the “Digeez,” a
new brand mascot launched to coincide
with the slogan “Your Friend
in the Digital Age.”
2006 Jim Robbins, creator of the bundle,
retires and dies later in the year. Patrick Esser
succeeds him as president.
2002 Cox builds own IP network in five months
and launches Cox High Speed Internet. Also
launches high-definition TV in Las Vegas and
Arizona.
2000 Cox Business Services formally established (now Cox
Business). Cox Communications, with $3.5 billion in annual
revenue, joins the Fortune 500 listing for the first time.
1990s
1999 Acquires more than 2.1 million customers
to increase its subscriber rolls to 6 million
customers in 18 states.
1997 Cox launches digital cable in Orange County, Calif., and creates
a bundled package including high-speed Internet access, local and
long-distance telephone service and digital video to customers in one
network from one company.
1996 Congress passes the 1996 Telecommunications Act, deregulating the
industry and encouraging additional competition in the telecommunications
industry. Cox completes system swaps that strengthen its clusters in Hampton
Roads, Va.; New England; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix and Louisiana.
1995 Cox acquires Times Mirror Cable Television, increasing the number
of customers served from 1.8 million to 3.2 million subscribers. “Cable” is
dropped from the name, which becomes Cox Communications.
Surpasses $1 billion in revenue.
1994 Cox and Southwestern Bell call off a planned merger. Cox
establishes a partnership with Times Mirror Co. to develop programming,
resulting in the creation of Outdoor Life Network (no
1993 Begins serving business
customers in Hampton Roads, Va.
1992 Cox makes the world’s first PCS phone call, resulting in a Pioneer’s Preference
Award of wireless spectrum from the Federal Communications
Commission. Named Operator of the Year by Cablevision magazine.
1980s
1986 James “Jim”
Robbins is named
president of CCC.
1985 The public shares of Cox Cable Communications are
merged into Cox Enterprises, making it a private company.
1984 Cox Broadcasting spins off its cable
operations and launches Cox Cable
Communications Inc.
1981 CableRep, the advertising sales division of Cox Cable is established.
Began testing IN DAX (interactive data exchange) in San Diego.
IN DAX was a precursor to the Internet and allowed users to bank, shop
and receive the latest news, sports, restaurant listings and other local
information through the television. Uses fiber optic cable to transport
video signals for the first time in Great Neck, N.Y.
1970s
1971 Cox Cable Communications stock moves from over-thecounter
trading to the American Stock Exchange (symbol CXC).
1960s
1968 Cox Cable Communications is incorporated to consolidate
Cox’s cable-TV interests.
1964 Cox Broadcasting Corporate (later Cox
Communications) is established as a public company
traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
1962 Cox enterprises enters the cable-television
business, purchasing systems in Lewistown, Lock
Haven and Tyrone, Pa., followed by systems in
California, Oregon and Washington.
