USHBC urges CPUC to approve Charter-Cox merger today

The United States Hispanic Business Council is pressing California regulators to clear Charter Communications’ $34.5 billion deal for Cox Communications, saying small businesses and consumers need faster broadband investment and more certainty. The CPUC is scheduled to vote Aug. 13 on the merger with added conditions tied to access, affordability, service and community investment.

Why it matters: - The Charter-Cox deal would create a larger broadband and communications provider with the scale to expand fiber, wireless infrastructure, business services and next-gen technology investment. - The USHBC says Hispanic-owned businesses rely on affordable, reliable broadband to reach customers, process payments, manage employees and compete in a digital economy. - Final approval would give Charter and Cox the certainty needed to move ahead with promised benefits for consumers, entrepreneurs and underserved communities.

What happened: - The CPUC is set to vote Aug. 13 on the proposed $34.5 billion merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications. - The commission will consider additional conditions tied to broadband access, affordability, service and investment in California communities. - The vote includes two proposed settlements, one from Commissioner Matthew Baker and one from Administrative Law Judge Jamie Ormond. - Javier Palomarez, president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Business Council, called on the CPUC to approve the deal without delay.

The details: - Palomarez said California’s small businesses and consumers have waited long enough and that the CPUC has already built a comprehensive record of testimony and data. - Palomarez said the transaction should move forward so its promised benefits can reach American small businesses and consumers. - The USHBC said broadband has become essential infrastructure for Main Street America. - The USHBC said the merger would support continued private investment in fiber, wireless infrastructure, business services and next-gen communications technology. - Palomarez said the deal offers a chance to combine greater scale and investment with commitments to the communities Charter and Cox serve. - Palomarez warned that further delay would postpone expanded investment, innovation and connectivity for small businesses and underserved communities. - The USHBC urged the CPUC to make a timely decision and approve the transaction. - The group said timely approval would provide certainty for Charter and Cox to begin delivering anticipated benefits nationwide.

Between the lines: - The USHBC is framing the merger as a broadband and small-business issue, not just a telecom consolidation. - The push for approval reflects a broader argument that larger private investment can help close connectivity gaps, especially for Hispanic entrepreneurs and underserved areas. - The call for urgency suggests the council sees regulatory delay as a direct drag on investment and service upgrades.

What's next: - The CPUC will decide whether to approve the merger and the proposed conditions at its Aug. 13 meeting. - The USHBC said it will continue advocating for policies and private-sector investment that expand broadband access and support Hispanic entrepreneurs. - The organization directed supporters to follow @myushbc and @JPalomarez on X and to visit ushbc.com/join for membership. - USHBC is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit and nonpartisan group focused on small-business advocacy.

The bottom line: - The USHBC wants California regulators to clear the Charter-Cox merger now, arguing that delay would slow broadband investment and the benefits it could bring to small businesses and communities.