Last updated: November 2026
This guide is for residential internet customers in former Cox markets, including Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Norfolk and Providence, who rent a Cox Panoramic Wifi gateway or own a cable modem. It covers what Charter's purchase of Cox changes for your equipment, which approved modem list applies to you, and what happens to rental fees on a Cox plan versus a Spectrum plan. Every figure below was checked against Charter, Cox and Spectrum pages on November 11, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Your current modem or gateway keeps working. Charter closed its purchase of Cox on August 20, 2026, and Cox states that equipment, plans and prices stay the same unless you choose to change them.
- On a Cox plan, Cox's certified modem list still decides what can be activated. Spectrum's approved list applies to Spectrum plans, and Spectrum stopped supporting DOCSIS 3.0 modems on October 28, 2026.
- Cox lists its Panoramic Wifi gateway rental at $13 per month. Spectrum includes a modem at no charge and charges $10 per month for Advanced WiFi on its Internet 100 and Internet 500 plans. Owning your modem and router removes both charges.
Is Cox now Spectrum?
Yes. Charter Communications, the company that operates Spectrum, acquired Cox Communications on August 20, 2026, and Spectrum products, pricing and packaging launched in former Cox markets on September 16, 2026. The change reached about 11 million homes and businesses.
The Cox name has not disappeared from existing accounts. Cox's transition page says customers can keep using the Cox app and cox.com to manage service, pay bills and get support. Charter's transaction page says Spectrum is the consumer-facing brand on products, bills and service going forward.
Will my Cox modem still work now that Cox is Spectrum?
Yes. A modem or gateway that works on your Cox service today keeps working, and Cox says no action is needed from customers. This applies to a rented Panoramic Wifi gateway and to a modem you own.
A cable modem is the box that connects the coax line from your wall to your home network. A gateway is a modem and a WiFi router combined in one box.
Cox's transition page states: "You can continue using your current equipment and apps. If changes are ever needed, we will guide you step-by-step." The same page says your account information, autopay, billing, price and current plan stay the same.
Which approved modem list applies to former Cox customers?
If you are still on a Cox plan, Cox's certified modem list applies. Cox's compatible modem page says of that list: "If it's not on the list, our service won't work." Spectrum's approved list applies to Spectrum plans.
As of November 11, 2026, neither company has published a merged list, and neither has said which list governs a former Cox address after the customer moves to a Spectrum plan. The safe choice when buying a modem now is a model that appears on both lists.
DOCSIS is the standard cable modems use to send data over coax lines. The ten standalone DOCSIS 3.1 modems below appear on both our Cox approved modem list and our Spectrum approved modem list.
| Modem | DOCSIS version | Top plan speed on the Cox list | Top plan speed on the Spectrum list |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARRIS S33 | 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| ARRIS SB8200 | 3.1 | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Motorola MB8611 | 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Motorola B12 | 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| Motorola MB8600 | 3.1 | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| NETGEAR CM1000 | 3.1 | 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| NETGEAR CM1200 | 3.1 | 2 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| NETGEAR CM2000 | 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
| NETGEAR CM3000 | 3.1 | Multi-gig | 1 Gbps |
| Hitron CODA56 | 3.1 | 2.5 Gbps | 1 Gbps |
Three gateways with built-in WiFi also appear on both lists: the Motorola MG8702, the Motorola MG8725 and the NETGEAR CAX80. Spectrum's 2 Gig plan requires Spectrum-provided equipment, so no customer-owned modem covers that tier.
A DOCSIS 3.0 modem is the one case to plan for. It can stay in service on a Cox plan while it remains on Cox's certified list, but Spectrum retired DOCSIS 3.0 modems on October 28, 2026. Our guide to the Spectrum "modem no longer supported" message lists the affected models.
What happens to my Cox Panoramic Wifi rental fee?
Nothing changes while you stay on your Cox plan. Cox lists the Panoramic Wifi gateway rental at $13 per month, which is $156 per year, and Cox states that your price and current plan stay the same. Check your bill for the exact amount on your account.
Spectrum plans price equipment differently. Spectrum's internet page states: "A Spectrum modem is free with every Internet plan." WiFi is the separate charge: Advanced WiFi costs $10 per month, or $120 per year, and is included with Internet 1 Gig or any bundle.
| Equipment | On a Cox plan (monthly) | On a Spectrum plan (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Rented modem or gateway | $13 for the Panoramic Wifi gateway | $0, a modem is included |
| Rented WiFi | Included in the gateway rental | $10 for Advanced WiFi; included with Internet 1 Gig or any bundle |
| Your own modem | $0, must be on the Cox certified list | $0, must be on the Spectrum approved list |
| Your own router | $0 | $0, and it removes the Advanced WiFi charge |
On either plan, a modem and router you own bring the monthly equipment charge to $0. Our guide to buying and owning your modem walks through the payback math.
One more monthly fee to kill
Renting your modem? That's $120+ a year.
Own it instead. It pays for itself in months. 90-day warranty and 30-day returns.
Pick your provider:
Do I have to return my Cox gateway or swap equipment?
No. Cox has not asked existing customers to return or swap equipment, and its transition page says it will guide customers step by step if a change is ever needed. As of November 11, 2026, neither Cox nor Charter has published a swap schedule or return steps for customers who move to a Spectrum plan.
Keep your rented gateway until you receive instructions through your account, email or another official channel. If you replace a rented gateway with a modem you own, return the gateway the way your account instructs and keep the receipt until the rental charge leaves your bill.
Should I switch from my Cox plan to a Spectrum plan?
Switching is optional, and it only happens if you start it. Charter's letter to Cox customers says: "You will not see any pricing or service changes at this time, unless initiated by you."
Spectrum's internet page lists Internet 100 at $30 per month, Internet 500 at $40 per month and Internet 1 Gig at $60 per month, each for one year, with standard rates after that. Spectrum plans have no data caps.
Before you ask for a Spectrum plan, confirm four things:
- The standard rate after the first year, in writing.
- Whether your Cox promotion or contract ends when you change plans. Cox says existing promotions are honored according to your current agreement.
- Whether your modem is on the Spectrum approved list. A DOCSIS 3.0 modem will not qualify.
- Whether you need Advanced WiFi at $10 per month, or whether a router you own covers your home. Our Spectrum router guide by speed tier matches routers to each plan.
Charter has a reason to compete for your account. On November 6, 2026, it reported losing 233,000 internet customers in the third quarter, including 77,000 in former Cox markets.
Does the Cox data cap go away with Spectrum?
It goes away if you move to a Spectrum plan, because Spectrum plans have no data caps. Cox plans have carried a 1.25 TB monthly data allowance, and neither company's transition page says whether that allowance has changed for customers who stay on a Cox plan.
If you stay on your Cox plan, check your data usage and plan details in the Cox app before assuming the allowance is gone.
How do I activate my own modem on a former Cox account?
On a Cox plan, activation still runs through Cox. Connect the modem to the coax line, power it on, connect a computer or router by Ethernet, open a browser, and enter your Cox account number and the modem's MAC address when the activation page loads. The MAC address is the 12-character hardware ID printed on the modem's label.
Our Cox modem activation guide covers each screen. On a Spectrum plan, activation runs through Spectrum's self-install page instead, and our Spectrum modem activation guide covers that path.
What should former Cox customers do now?
You do not have to act, but four checks protect you from surprise charges and an incompatible modem later.
- Find your modem's model number on its label and check it against both approved lists.
- If your modem is DOCSIS 3.0, plan to replace it with a DOCSIS 3.1 model before you move to a Spectrum plan.
- If you rent, do the math: $13 per month is $156 per year for a gateway you never own.
- Save a copy of your current Cox plan, price and promotion end date so you can compare any Spectrum offer against it.
FAQ
Do I need to do anything now that Cox is Spectrum?
No. Cox's transition page says: "Nothing to do here! You can continue enjoying your existing Cox service and managing your account exactly as you do today." Your equipment, plan, price, autopay and billing continue as they are.
Will Spectrum raise my Cox price?
Cox says there are no changes to your current plan or pricing at this time unless you choose to make them, and that promotions and contracts are honored according to your current agreement. Spectrum's own listed prices are one-year rates, with standard rates after the first year.
Will my Cox email address keep working?
Yes. Cox's transition page says: "Your email and account details will remain the same."
Can I still use a DOCSIS 3.0 modem?
On a Cox plan, a DOCSIS 3.0 modem keeps working while it remains on Cox's certified list. Spectrum stopped supporting DOCSIS 3.0 modems on October 28, 2026, so a Spectrum plan requires a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
Can I use my own modem with Cox phone service?
No. Phone service needs an eMTA, which is a cable modem with phone ports, and Cox supplies that equipment itself. A customer-owned modem works for internet-only service.
Is the Cox name going away?
The Spectrum brand is the name customers will see on products, bills and service, according to Charter. Charter also says its parent company will be renamed Cox Communications within one year of the August 20, 2026 closing.
Which modem should I buy if I might switch to a Spectrum plan later?
Buy a DOCSIS 3.1 modem that is on both approved lists, such as the ARRIS SB8200, the NETGEAR CM1000 or the Motorola MB8611. Our Spectrum modem picks by speed tier match each model to a plan.
