According to a recent report from Cox, conducted by a third-party research firm, customers enrolled in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and/or use Cox’s Connect2Compete (C2C) service are experiencing significant positive impacts to their careers, their children’s education and to the continuing education of the adults in their household.
Cox’s long-standing commitment to narrowing the digital divide began 20 years ago with Connect2Compete for families with K-12 children. Today, Cox is proudly administering the Federal Government’s ACP program to deliver financial relief to customers and recently launched a new low-cost solution ideal for veterans, senior citizens, and Americans with disabilities, called ConnectAssist. C2C and ConnectAssist customers can receive free internet when the ACP benefit is applied.
Key findings from the October 2022 report, which surveyed more than 2,000 customers, found:
• About half of them have home internet for the first time
• 70% credit home internet for finding a new or better job
• Half said they got a promotion or a pay increase
• 90% said they are now doing homework at home
• Half said they are now able to apply to college and apply for financial aid
• Half said they have gotten certified in a specific skill or trade
• One third reported they are a first-generation college graduate in their family as a result of home internet
• 90% of households say Cox internet access has had a positive impact on their children’s education
• Customers used grateful, relieved, blessed to describe having internet for the first time
Findings from respondents from the West (California, Arizona, Nevada and Idaho) include:
• 90% of households say Cox internet access has had a positive impact on their children’s education
• 78% of respondents indicate Cox internet access has had a positive impact on the career of people in the household
• 67% of households state Cox internet access has had a positive impact on the continuing education efforts of the adults in the home
“Internet access at home is an important service to earn a quality education and to meet one’s professional goals,” said Mark Greatrex, president of Cox Communications.
“This research shows how our customers’ lives are bettered by having an affordable internet connection at home. We’re fully committed to our digital equity efforts and empowering more people to get connected and thrive in today’s world.”
Of the positive impacts that stem from Cox internet access, 93% of ACP and C2C customers indicate they’re able to pay their bills on time more easily, and 95% of C2C customers say it provides a way for their family to spend more time together.
One ACP customer said, “I absolutely love it. I am so happy to get a discount, it helps me tremendously because I am a widow and live on Social Security.”
Additionally, nine out of 10 ACP and C2C customers say Cox internet allows their children to access educational resources, do homework and participate in remote learning, and it better enables the adult(s) in the household to communicate with the child’s teacher.
“I was unable to afford internet service prior to this opportunity,” said a Cox customer using C2C service. “My daughter couldn’t to do her homework at home, and I was unable to take her to the public library.”
The 2022 Cox Digital Equity Research report was based on a survey of Cox customers enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and/or Connect2Compete (C2C) services.
To learn more about Cox’s dedication to digital equity and explore affordable internet tiers, visit cox.com/digitalequity.
