Cox Communications President Mark Greatrex was at the National Press Club in D.C. Thursday to tout the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program and other affordable internet programs the cable operator offers. Cox surveyed a couple thousand customers who are participating in ACP, Connect2Compete or both.
While a lot is made about the educational opportunity connectivity provides children, Cox found that 70% of those adults in the programs found a job or better job, 69% reported being able to perform at a higher level at work and 49% have received a promotion or increase in pay. Greatrex noted that 71% reported they can work remotely with Cox Internet, quipping that “you can earn pretty good coin” at Cox working remotely as a call center rep.
Other findings: 90% said the internet had a positive impact on their children’s education and 48% had never had internet access at home before. “We’re curious and interested in measuring the impact that we’re having on peoples’ lives,” Greatrex told CFX. In fact, Cox’s press event included a customer in Arizona who is taking advantage of ACP as she pursues her education at Arizona State University. Also in attendance were White House Infrastructure Team advisor William Fields as well as Super Bowl champ, author, poet and literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell, who has served as a digital equity advocate with Cox for more than a year now.
“I don’t think I was fully invested in understanding digital equity until I started the partnership with Cox. I try to encourage [children], especially when we visit a Boys & Girls Club to introduce a Cox Innovation Lab, to understand that this is something you can use to explore your curiosity, to give you the tools and information you need to make a series of good decisions that lead you to your desired outcome.”
