Cox Communications has expanded its variety of affordable services today announcing the low-cost internet tier, ConnectAssist. Similar to its existing Connect2Compete (C2C) low-cost program focusing on households with children, ConnectAssist is available to low-income households with or without children, Veterans, seniors and Tribal members who need affordable internet access. The ConnectAssist package includes a discounted modem rental along with other great features.

ConnectAssists is specifically designed for families without children in grades K-12 who are enrolled in government financial assistance programs, and those receiving Veterans Pension & Survivors Benefits, Tribal Programs, Supplemental Security Income, and/or Medicaid.*  

“We are determined to narrow the digital divide by making connectivity and digital literacy easily accessible to everyone in our communities,” said Percy Kirk, Cox Southwest Region Manager and Senior Vice President. “This offering further expands and strengthens our affordability options as well as our focus on digital equity.  Here in Arizona, we are proud to provide more than 6000+ students with internet service (under C2C) and know with ConnectAssist our services will continue to connect more and more Arizonans.”

The ConnectAssist internet package provides customers with internet access and a modem rental for $30/month plus taxes, which can support speeds up to 50 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload. 

Eligible customers can sign up at  and are not required to go through credit checks, commit to term agreements, or pay deposits. Other key program features include:  

·        EasyConnect self-installation or $20 professional installation  

·        Access to Wifi Hotspots and Cox Security Suite Plus

*To qualify for ConnectAssist, customers must participate in one government assistance program such as SNAP, TANF, Head Start, WIC, LIHEAP, Public Housing, Pell Grant, Veterans Pension & Survivors Benefits, Tribal Programs, Supplemental Security Income, or Medicaid. &˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;

See cox.com/ConnectAssist for a complete list of currently eligible programs. 

Additionally, customers qualifying for ConnectAssist could be eligible for the Federal Government’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, making internet connectivity even more affordable. Customers may be able to get ConnectAssist for as low as $0/month after discount with the . The discount amount and eligibility are based on EBB program rules which are subject to change. Customers can learn more about the EBB program (and check their eligibility) at cox.com/ebb. 

Cox remains committed to providing accessible internet. For a full variety of affordable internet options offered, please visit . &˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;

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The nation’s largest private telecom company has a new senior vice president and region manager for the Southwest.

Percy Kirk will now oversee Cox operations and the more than 4,300 employees in the company’s largest region, which includes Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Southern Arizona.

Most recently, Kirk led Cox’s Central Region, based in Oklahoma. The new post is a homecoming of sorts for Kirk, who previously held the position of Cox Arizona’s vice president of network operations.

“I am so pleased to have Percy lead our Southwest Region,” said Colleen Langner, senior vice president, field operations.  “He has seen us grow from a traditional residential cable TV provider to a broadband service provider that connects millions of homes and businesses with a continually expanding diverse product portfolio. His deep operational and technical experience makes him an exceptional leader who I know will positively impact our teams, customers and communities.”

Serving more than 35 years in the cable telecommunications industry, Kirk has held a variety of positions within Cox Communications. 

Prior to leading the Central Region for Cox, Kirk was the senior vice president and general manager for Cox Oklahoma where he managed strategic operations in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas. He also served as senior vice president and general manager for the company’s Omaha market and has held the position of vice president of operations for Cox Communications Kansas.

“Percy is no stranger to Arizona and was a key leader during our expansion into delivering broadband and phone service in Arizona. His leadership style and focus on employees, customers and the community will be a huge asset to the state,” said Susan Anable, Cox Southwest Vice President of Public Affairs.

Carrying the Cox tradition of supporting the communities where it serves, Kirk has continued to build a strong reputation in his community and is a past chair of the Greater Oklahoma City Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce, past chair of The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools and he served on the board of directors for the United Way of Central Oklahoma and the OKC Compact. 

Kirk will be joining several key Arizona community and business organizations this fall.

Kirk’s appointment follows the retirement of John Wolfe, a 40-year veteran in the cable and telecom world, who previously oversaw the Southwest region.Cox serves six million homes and businesses across 18 states. In metro Phoenix, the company serves approximately 2.5 million product subscribers, and in Southern Arizona, approximately 400,000 product subscribers, with residential and business digital television, 1G high speed Internet, security systems and digital telephone service over its own nationwide IP network.

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Cox Communications executive and business champion John Wolfe announced he is retiring after three decades and many major milestones with the cable provider, including rolling out gig speed internet in Arizona, the first company to do so. 

“John advocated for the company’s investment and growth of our network to meet the phenomenal economic growth that was happening here,” said Susan Anable, vice president of public and government affairs, a position Wolfe once held.

Now senior vice president and manager of Cox’s Southwest region, which encompasses Arizona and Nevada, Wolfe is leaving behind a legacy that will be a tough act to follow, Anable said. Today, is the largest private broadband company in America with Arizona its fastest growing and largest market for broadband, internet and cable. 

Retiring but staying involved 

Wolfe, who plans to become a snowbird between Arizona and New England, said he is ready to devote more time to having fun with his wife, Kris. 

“I’ll miss the talented team at Cox, but I’m looking forward to staying involved in organizations and issues in Arizona that are important to me, traveling more with Kris, and spending summers back in New England.”

High speed internet for low-income students 

A hallmark of Wolfe’s tenure is the program, which offers high speed internet to low-income families with students for $10 a month. The program has helped thousands of families and it became a critical lifeline during the Covid-19 outbreak, Anable said.  

“With the pandemic and a lot of kids learning at home, that service has become an invaluable connection for these kids. They would not have been able to continue going  to school in many cases.”  

Pushing for policies to make Arizona business friendly 

Wolfe also has been a champion for policies that benefit the business community at large. Policies like Proposition 123, which authorized the infusion of $3.5 billion into K-12 education over 10 years. He also advocated on behalf of businesses on major issues like the Drought Contingency Plan, a seven-state plan to protect Colorado River water supplies, which are shrinking due to climate change. 

“He understands that if we don’t have an adequate water supply and an educated workforce and good quality of life here, there’s no customers,” Anable said. 

Wolfe said he is leaving Cox on a note of extreme pride over the company’s actions and performance during the pandemic.  

“Looking back over this past year, I am most proud of how Cox and the Southwest team responded to the pandemic,” he said. “Every decision we made was designed to protect our employees and keep them safe, meet the work-from-home and learn-from-home needs of our customers, and support our communities.”

Dreams should be flexible 

Wolfe’s advice as he heads out the door? Dreams should always be flexible. 

“Stay curious and stay flexible, and challenge yourself to embrace what you don’t know.  Out of college, I was a reporter in Washington, D.C. and thought I’d write the next great American novel. So while this isn’t the career I thought I’d have 40 years ago, it’s been far more rewarding than I ever could have dreamed, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

Four-decade career started as reporter 

A 40-year veteran in the cable and telecom world, Wolfe has spent the bulk of it with Cox. Before he became general manager and senior vice president to oversee Arizona and Las Vegas, he was senior vice president and general manager of the Northeast Region. 

Prior to moving into operations, John was vice president of government and public affairs for Cox’s Northeast region, responsible for the development of government, public affairs and communications strategies for the company.

He also held a number of other positions in the field including public affairs director for Times Mirror Cable Television, director of public information for the National Cable Television Association and managing editor and Washington bureau chief for CableVision Magazine. 

In addition to his day job, Wolfe currently chairs the Greater Phoenix Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce’s board of directors and also serves on the boards of the Arizona Commerce Authority and invisionAZ. He has been an active member in a number of organizations, including Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Southwest Cable Communications Association, and immediate past chairman of the board of directors of the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association.  

About Cox Communications  is the largest private telecom company in America, serving six million homes and businesses across 18 states. In metro Phoenix, the company serves about 2.5 million subscribers and in Southern Arizona, approximately 400,000, with residential and business digital television, 1G high speed Internet, security systems and digital telephone service over its own nationwide IP network. 

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This time last year, most of us had heard rumblings about COVID-19 – but at the time, it seemed so far away. Little did we know it would become a global pandemic that would bring about broad-sweeping change in so many facets of life – technology included.

The pandemic has been a technology accelerator for businesses, municipalities, schools, healthcare and homes. As such, those of us at Cox Communications, who provide internet, telephone, security and video services to thousands of Arizona small and regional businesses and more than three million connectivity products within homes across the state, have seen a few interesting technology trends that we believe will continue throughout 2021.

Provider adoption and investment in telehealth grows

Finding ways to connect virtually with your doctor is getting easier, too. According to a, only 28% of respondents said that their healthcare service provider offered telehealth before COVID-19.  , too, gave telehealth a thumbs up, with 57% viewing it more favorably than before the pandemic and 64% feeling more comfortable using the technology.

Further, the same report shows up to $250 billion of current U.S. healthcare spend could go virtual – up from $3 billion pre-COVID-19.

Smart communities keep getting smarter

From waste management and water meters to street lighting, parking and public safety, communities are getting smarter by the day.

In Arizona, the at ASU serves as an incubation center that is engaging ASU students and faculty to design the next wave of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that will focus on projects pertaining to smart and connected products that will empower citizens, students and local government teams to live and work more efficiently and enhance the quality of life.  The ASU team is looking at urban redesign, augmented reality and the workforce of the future as well as fleet management, health and wellness and public safety.  

Smart communities are increasingly becoming a priority nationwide – and worldwide. The pandemic has, and citizens are more open to smart community tech than ever – which is unlocking doors to rapid growth that will continue. Going smart enables municipalities to make more effective data-driven decisions, decreases inefficiencies and streamlines and automates processes. It also enhances citizen and government engagement, improves infrastructure and provides new economic development opportunities.

And the trend toward just-about-everything-smart is taking place inside the home as well. According to, North America in 2023 is expected to have 40% of the worldwide market of consumer spending on smart home systems like smart assistants, smart speakers and smart door locks and light switches. 

School and work will continue to stay home…somewhat

Remote work and school are not going away anytime soon, making broadband connectivity essential. Many employees who were forced to work from home this past year may continue to do so permanently. According to, the percentage of workers permanently working from home is expected to double this year and Big Tech is leading the way with companies like Twitter and Facebook having recognized the benefits of employees working from home indefinitely, even as offices reopen. 

Although working from home might have had a rocky start, employees have mastered using real-time chat and video conferencing to stay connected. According to, 94% of 800 employers surveyed by Mercer, an HR and workplace benefits firm, said that productivity was the same or higher than it was before the pandemic. Our own workforce at Cox will likely see a work/work-from-home hybrid model in the future.   Interactive video conferencing and chat have enabled teams to maintain cohesion and stay connected while working out of the office. In fact, Cox Business has produced a Work-at-Home solution for Arizona enterprises. This solution provides remote staff with enterprise-grade, separate internet connections from the office directly to their homes including Wi-Fi, endpoint security and a malicious domain blocker to help ensure staff members have the same highly reliable, quick connectivity they would have when working in the office.

On the education front, researchers found approximately 20% of public school district superintendents and charter school leaders said they plan to continue online schooling as an option once the pandemic subsides – or are considering the online option for families and students who want the choice.

Whether teaching or learning from home or in the classroom, data-driven insights improve the classroom experience. Apps empower teachers to digitally administer homework, quizzes, tests and have one-on-one face time with students and parents.

And through artificial intelligence and machine learning, automated technology allows teachers to monitor and evaluate the progress students are making and better understand their strengths and weaknesses. For students, apps enable learning through gamification, which creates a fun and positive learning environment and can make the most reticent student excited about his or her studies. 

More content means more bandwidth and navigation help

Due to stay-in-place restrictions, the entire world has been. Internet service providers, such as Cox, have experienced the equivalent of two years of traffic growth in the first few months of the pandemic and it has remained constant at those new levels.

And high-intensity applications aka “bandwidth hogs” like video streaming platforms that make online work and school possible are essential yet difficult to attain without the appropriate bandwidth. Therefore, ISPs have answered this increasingly streaming boom by offering affordable internet packages that take care of all streaming needs – voice, video or otherwise.

Speaking of voice, whether folks are binge-watching Jeopardy! on Netflix or jamming to music from Spotify using their Alexa, the use of streaming services and voice assistants. With so many great TV shows to watch, it’s challenging to remember what’s on Peacock, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon and so on. But allow users to pull up a series, app or movie with just a few words, such as “Find the Discovery channel” or “What should I watch?”

There’s no doubt that the pandemic will subside at some point, but the technology trends that have come to the forefront will continue in 2021 – and long after as well.  Because Cox is committed to making digital life easier, we’ll continue investing in ways to better connect people and bring these critical technologies to life.

Susan Anable is Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for Cox. She oversees media, community relations, government affairs and internal communications in Arizona and Nevada.  She is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce and Industry Board.

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To help Arizona families impacted by COVID-19, Cox Communications announced it is extending its offer of two free months internet service for new customers. 

“Connection is more important than ever before, especially for kids,” said Cox Communications’ President and CEO Pat Esser.

Esser also announced that the company is pledging $60 million over the next year to close the digital learning gap for the neediest students. 

The telecommunications giant also is keeping 2,500-plus free wifi hotspots open to anyone who needs it in the Phoenix and Southern Arizona regions. 

Families receiving some form of government assistance qualify 

Eligible families can receive the two free months by signing up for the Connect2Compete internet service through the rest of the year. After two free months, the service cost is only $9.95 per month. 

The program is available to families who have at least one child that is a K-12 student at home and participate in one of these government subsidy programs: the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, TANF, Head Start, WIC, LIHEAP, or Public Housing

Students without digital options left behind 

The announcement is part of a continuing commitment by COX to help students compete academically during the pandemic disruptions. 

“We continue to look at ways to support kids that need the tools to succeed and know it starts with an internet connection, device and digital resources,” Esser said.

Through June 30, 2021 Cox is taking steps to help bridge the learning divide including:

• Actively promote the low-cost Connect2Compete program, including providing toolkits for schools to help families connect
• Continue no requirement of deposits or application fees and proactively waive late fees for eligible Connect2Compete customers
• Provide flexible payment arrangements for eligible customers who contact Cox with an inability to pay due to pandemic hardships
• Partner with cities, school districts and community-based organizations to connect large numbers of low-income students to the internet

Cox employees raise $560,000 for youth and education 

As part of its ongoing mission to help youth and education, Cox’s charitable arm, Cox Charities, has selected more than 100 Arizona nonprofits in Phoenix and Southern Arizona to receive nearly $560,000 in grant funding. 

Most of the money comes from donations from the company’s 3,100 Arizona employees. For almost 35 years, Cox employees have pitched in annually to raise a total $8.5 million for Arizona nonprofits that support youth and education. 

Keeping children and students connected so they can succeed academically was particularly important to the employees this year, they said. 

“Through Cox Charities, we help ensure that our youth get the educational services they need and don’t fall through the cracks. That makes me extremely proud,” Cox employee Astrid Valencia said. 

Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000 this year. 

Arizona Autism United said it is using the grant money to provide online access for 800 children in their homes. 

Another nonprofit, School Connect, is buying 67 Lenovo touchscreen laptop computers with Office 365 software installed so low-income families in the Litchfield Elementary School District can sign up for the Connect2Compete program. 

Families interested in the Connect2Compete can get qualified for the service on their mobile device or computer by visiting .

To find a free wifi hotspot, go to:

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Cox Communications, the largest private telecom company in America, is involved in two initiatives this month as part of its ongoing effort to meet a “great need” among  low-income students and their families in Arizona during the pandemic. 

In its latest effort, Cox partnered with the Arizona Cardinals and State Farm last week to give 150 computers and one free year of high speed internet to 150 families in Phoenix. Families in the Phoenix Elementary and Roosevelt school districts are receiving the free computers and one free year of Cox’s Connect2Compete high speed internet.

“As schools continue to find ways to educate kids outside the classroom, we don’t want to see kids get left behind just because their family can’t afford a computer and an internet connection in the home,” said Susan Anable, Cox’s southwest vice president of public affairs.

All of the students selected qualify for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or live in public housing.

Access to technology at home is critical to the quality of a student’s education, yet many students in America lack internet access, Anable said. One-third of households with children 6 to 17 years old do not have high speed internet in their homes, to Cox. 

To address the need, Cox offers an option for low-income families with school-age children through its Connect2Compete . Qualifying families can receive home internet with wifi for $9.95 a month. 

Of the parents enrolled in the program, 91 percent agree that low-cost internet service at home gives children a leg up for high school graduation.

Cox Charities accepting grant applications through May 29

Cox also announced last week that it is accepting through May 29 for grants up to $10,000 each from Arizona nonprofits that work with youth and education. 

Now more than ever, nonprofits are relying on giving to be able to continue to support children in their communities, said Anable, citing a new report conducted by the Arizona State University (ASU) Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. 

The , which surveyed 449 Arizona nonprofits, portrays a sector struggling under the weight of the pandemic:

•        Nearly 80 percent reported a reduction in normal services
•        Eleven percent are not operating at all
•        Almost 40 percent of all arts and culture nonprofits are not operating
•        Just under 20 percent will not be able meet payroll in eight weeks
•        Only 5 percent report they are operating normally

That’s why supporting them is so critical right now, Anable said. 

“Continuing our history of supporting the communities in Arizona where our employees live and work, Cox recognizes how vital our youth and education-focused nonprofit community is to provide vital support for children in our state. At a time when donations are down sharply due to the pandemic, our 3,200 employees are extending a helping hand.”   

Last year, Cox Charities distributed nearly $570,000 to more than 100 youth and education-focused nonprofits across Arizona. Cox Charities funds are raised through employee-driven fundraisers and personal contributions throughout the year, as well as community fundraising partnerships. 

For the guidelines and grant applications, go to: .

Cox has almost 3 million customers in Arizona

As the largest private telecom company in the U.S., Cox has 6 million residential and commercial customers. Cox has about 20,000 employees nationwide. Total revenues in 2016 were $11 billion. 

While Cox operates cable systems in 18 states, almost half its customers are in Arizona where it employs more than 3,200 workers. In metro Phoenix, it serves more than 2.5 million subscribers and in Southern Arizona approximately 400,000. 

Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox of Ohio.

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Cox Communications recently announced it is partnering with Arizona State University to create the Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at the university.

The collaboration, announced at the 2019 ASU Smart Region Summit, is expected to drive the development of Arizona’s “smart region” infrastructure.

“Cox currently powers several smart city initiatives and communities today as the preferred data network of residents and business owners,” said Steve Rowley, executive vice president of Cox Business. “Cox Business, combined with Cox2M, will bring new experiential capabilities to the campus and provide a space for all to innovate.”

The partnership will also deliver on ASU’s Smart City Cloud Innovation Center (CIC) promise to build smarter communities in the Valley by providing solutions to community challenges.

According to Cox, the Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at ASU will serve as an incubation center and convening space that engages ASU students, staff and faculty to design the “next wave of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions” in hopes of solving real challenges within the Greater Phoenix area and beyond.

“Through our Cox2M business line, we will bring ASU students, staff and faculty the tools and capabilities to develop end-to-end solutions that can really make a difference,” said Sujata Gosalia, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Cox Communications. “We are excited to build the future together in this new collaborative environment.”

The Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory will reside in an Innovation Zone at ASU, one of several spaces across the Valley and ASU campuses dedicated to creating innovative solutions. Other Innovation Zones include SkySong, ASU Research Park, the Novus Innovation Corridor and more.

Cox will be deploying a comprehensive wired and wireless network on campus as part of ASU’s NextGen Network to power the Collaboratory.

“Cox is a trusted partner, and we are eager to see the Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at ASU drive smart region applications that combine people, connected devices, data and processes to improve community operations and the citizen experience,” ASU Chief Information Officer Lev Gonick said.

Earlier this month, ASU announced a  to develop a “Smart Campus” and eventually a “Smart State.” The two will work together to bring 5G connectivity and Sprint’s Curiosity IoT operating system to the university’s campuses.

“The spirit of innovation permeates everything we do here at ASU, and that philosophy extends to the ecosystems and resources we make available to our collaborators,” said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president of Knowledge Enterprise and chief research and innovation officer at ASU. “New ideas and solutions to grand challenges are discovered when we partner at this level. Our Innovation Centers and Innovation Zones are prime examples of how these relationships are cultivated, and how the resulting benefits are realized by our communities.”

To learn more about the Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory, .

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Cox Charities, Cox’s philanthropic arm, is dedicated to providing new opportunities for people and organizations in the Southwest. In Arizona, the foundation has truly hit its mark.

In late September, Cox Charities announced its selection of 108 local nonprofit organizations that would receive nearly $570,000 in grants. Since 1996, the organization has contributed more than $8 million to Arizona nonprofits.

“Cox employees are deeply embedded in the communities we serve in Arizona and are committed to supporting and volunteering to make a difference,” said John Wolfe, senior vice president and southwest region manager for Cox Communications, in a statement. “We are proud to stand behind so many nonprofit partners that are working hard to educate children and support families throughout Arizona.”

One of the recipients is , which will receive grant funding for its program “T4T on Wheels.” The service brings free school supplies from the Tempe location directly to teachers across the Valley.

Another grant recipient is  for their “Discover Your Future” program, an extracurricular mentorship opportunity for K-8 children who have been exposed to unhealthy or problematic situations. The mentors create and provide curriculum to teach youth in academics, athletics and ethics.

“The Cox funds will fund a variety of programs implemented by a vast variety of nonprofit organizations in Arizona,” said Andrea Pappas, public relations director at Cox. “We typically focus our giving on programs focused on youth and education, as this has been a focus of our company as handed down by our founder, [former Ohio Gov. James M. Cox]. In fact, Gov. Cox had language in his final wishes that requests that the company always aim to impact the communities where Cox does business.”

The organization also recently awarded Serve Tucson volunteer Mike Birrer with $10,000 for his conservation efforts in Southern Arizona. Birrer has cleaned, planted and painted roughly 50 Tucson neighborhoods and has even expanded his efforts to employ local homeless people in his restoration efforts.

Birrer is one of  for the Cox Conserves Heroes Award; he will now compete with the other finalists for a grand prize of $50,000. Through the award program, the James M. Cox Foundation has honored more than 200 volunteers and donated almost $1 million to environmental nonprofits.

“We believe we have narrowed down the finalists to a great group of volunteers who are making a positive impact in their community,” Pappas continued. “Of course, we are super excited about the work Mike Birrer and Serve Tucson are doing in our state. As you probably saw in , he started with a wish to clean up schools in the Tucson area and continues to draw more and more people into his mission, and has branched out to partner with homeless [people] in the area to put their talents to work.”

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