A trio of state representatives in Rhode Island argued Cox Communications’ planned $120 million investment in broadband infrastructure there might be too little, too late to make up for years of alleged neglect. But Cox contended it has spent plenty over the years and its latest commitment will leave federal funding free for other broadband investments.
Representatives Deborah Ruggiero, Lauren H. Carson and Terri Cortvriend claimed in a press release that residents of the Aquidneck Island-area — where Cox plans to spend $20 million of its budget on fiber rollouts — have “long had issues with slow, frequently disconnecting internet service, which is available only through Cox.” While they commended the operator for its planned upgrades, they questioned whether the amount was sufficient for the work Cox has outlined.
Cox unveiled a commitment to spend $120 million on broadband upgrades in Rhode Island earlier this week, allotting $20 million to roll out fiber in four communities. The representatives released their statement the next day.
“When you break down the $20 million among four communities over three years, it is $1.6 million. How is that not routine maintenance that should have been happening over the past eight to 10 years?” Ruggiero asked. “If they are really deploying ‘last mile’ fiber to 35,000 households as they mentioned, the cost would be close to $50 million. The numbers don’t work.”
Ruggiero also argued Cox’s investment does nothing to alleviate concerns about a lack of competition on Aquidneck Island. She urged officials in Rhode Island to create a state Broadband Advisory Council, which could create roadmaps for municipalities to access federal funding to meet their unique needs and partner with private companies to speed fiber rollouts.
A Cox representative shot back in a statement to Fierce, noting the company has spent more than $160 million on its network in Rhode Island over the last five years. The representative added "Our investment in infrastructure allows for federal and state dollars to be free to address broadband adoption and digital equity. As has been stated, $100 million is available to the state: money that can — because of investments like ours — be utilized to ensure connectivity for all residents to the educational and vocational opportunities of the internet."
"Rhode Islanders (and residents of other states) lose out on those opportunities when those federal dollars are allocated to overbuilding existing network infrastructure, which place an additional financial burden on taxpayers," the representative concluded.
The Fiber Broadband Association also came to Cox's defense, with CEO Gary Bolton applauding its planned fiber-to-the-home rollout to 35,000 locations. Additionally, Bolton responded to Ruggiero’s comments around municipal funding, stating “We’ve found that it is more important, successful and rewarding to focus investments on the most capable technology to deliver broadband services, rather than focus on the type of organization that will deliver the service.”