Q.
Why is Cox offering local telephone
service?
A. Our customers have told us that they would
like a choice in local telephone providers. As has been demonstrated in
many other industries, competition results in several benefits to consumers.
Local telephone service is part of our long-term strategy to offer our
customers a full-service package of communications services. Our customers
can rely on Cox to meet all of their communications needs with reliable,
top-quality products and services, including cable
television, telephone services and high-speed
Internet access. Cox Communications has substantially invested in
upgrading our cable network and now we offer video, voice and data services
over a single platform.
Q.
Why is Cox allowed to offer local
telephone service?
A. Cox is no longer just a cable company.
With the launch of Cox Digital Telephone®, Cox now offers a full slate of communications
services, including high speed access to the Internet and telephone services.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated the telecommunications
industry, legally permitting cable companies to enter into the local
telephone service market for the first time. We are able to launch our
service so quickly because we have been anticipating this opportunity and
have been upgrading our delivery network for nearly 10 years.
Q.
Do we need another local phone service
provider?
A. We’ll let our customers decide on
that. So far, in the areas we have begun to offer Cox Digital Telephone®, they have
responded with a clear yes. Consumers always stand to benefit from increased competition.
Consumers usually don’t have the luxury of selecting their service provider, since
historically there has been only one local service provider in each market. Similar to what happened when the long distance market was
opened to competition, consumers have a better choice – better technology, better
customer service and better value with Cox Digital Telephone®.
Q.
How do customers benefit from Cox’s
local phone service?
A. Cox customers are able to enjoy the
convenience and security of having all of their communications needs met by one company.
A company with a track record of providing a reliable, high-quality product and
superior customer service. Cox Digital Telephone® is also a better value; for
example, additional phone lines, which more and more consumers request to meet their
expanding communications needs, are much less expensive than our competitors’ because
our broadband network has much more capacity, making it easier and less costly for us to
provide additional lines. Cox Long Distance offers unrivaled prices and simplicity. Cox customers will have the option of enjoying the
convenience of just one bill for all of these communications services.
Q.
Are voice mail, caller ID, call waiting,
call forwarding and other ancillary products offered?
A. Yes, you will be able enjoy the same
services from Cox that you can get from your existing provider.
Q.
How good is the voice quality?
A. Cox’s digital broadband network will
provide voice quality that is just as good, if not better, than that of
the local phone companies.
Q.
Will I be able to call people who use
other local telephone companies?
A. Yes, the Cox network is connected to
other local telephone companies, so you are able to call anyone, anywhere, regardless of
what phone company they use.
Q.
Why would I switch?
A. Better technology, better customer
service and better value. Cox’s digital broadband network is 99.986
percent reliable, and we provide the best customer service in the cable
industry. We monitor our network around-the-clock to ensure the best
possible quality and reliability. As for prices, Cox Digital Telephone® offers a significant savings over other
providers, plus significant savings on second lines, ancillary features and long distance.
Q.
Is there a fee to switch?
A. There is no service activation fee
for preferred Cox Telephone customers.
Q.
Will my yard be dug up for
installation?
A. In some cases, yards may need to be
retrenched to install new drops. Your installer will be able to tell you when he visits
your home. If it's necessary, we take extreme measures to minimize the
impact to your property.
Q.
Will I need a receiver or some
other device in my house?
A. Cox will install a Network Interface
Unit (NIU) on the side of your house. The NIU is small – approximately 9 inches by 10
inches – and similar to the device other phone companies install to take signals from
the outside wiring and connect them to the inside wiring in your home.
Q.
Will my house need to be rewired?
A. No, the existing wiring inside your
home will operate just as it always has.
Q.
Will my current telephones work?
A. Yes.
Q.
Can I make a phone call and watch TV at
the same time?
A. Yes. In fact, you can also be surfing
the Internet with Cox high Speed
Internet. Cox’s broadband network allows you to use multiple
services simultaneously.
Q.
If my cable goes out, will my phone go
out too?
A. Not necessarily, because cable outages
can occur for a variety of reasons that may not affect the telephone lines. Cox’s
Network Operations Center constantly monitors the network for potential problems, quickly
identifies interruptions in service, and remedies the problem. In addition, if the problem
is an electrical power outage, Cox provides back-up power so your phone keeps
working. And finally, Cox’s broadband network is
99.986 percent reliable, so there are very, very few outages on our system.
Q.
Can I choose any long distance company?
A. Yes, and Cox Long Distance is likely
your best choice as we offer unsurpassed value - 12 cents per minute for long distance
calls within California and 15 cents per minute for calls anywhere in the continental US
– all day, every day.
Q.
Is Cox
Digital Telephone® available in my neighborhood?
A. Click here
and find out! or Call toll free 1 (888) 333-6528
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Why is Cox offering local telephone service?