Cox Communications tells council it has invested $38.5 million in city network; franchise expires 2027

Connor Carroll, manager of government affairs for Cox Communications, delivered the company’s annual report to the Broken Arrow City Council and described recent local investments, community programs and the franchise contract status.

Carroll said Cox has invested about $38.5 million in infrastructure work inside the city since 2021, upgrades that he said enabled multi-gig service across the provider’s footprint in the area. He told council that Cox pays roughly $850,000 annually to the city under the company’s nonexclusive franchise agreement and described community programs including a $9.95 broadband plan for eligible K–12 households and a $30 plan for other qualifying low-income households.

“We’re here for the long run,” Carroll said, noting Cox’s fourth-generation family ownership and more than 100 local employees in Broken Arrow. He also described Cox Mobile, rural broadband expansion partnerships, employee charitable grants and volunteer hours as part of the company’s community commitments.

Councilors asked about take-up of low-cost programs; Carroll said the most recent nonrefreshed figures indicated roughly 2,500 households had used one of the affordability offerings and he offered to verify and update that number for council. City staff reminded the council that Cox’s current franchise term expires in 2027 and that the city recently took an action to begin the negotiation process; Carroll said Cox looks forward to continuing discussions ahead of renewal.

Carroll also described Cox’s involvement with local economic-development site-marketing efforts and workforce outreach at events such as career fairs.

The presentation concluded with council members thanking Carroll for the update and asking staff to continue coordinating on franchise and connectivity planning.