Cox Communications is preparing to launch its Digital Telephone in Northern Virginia beginning next month to compete with the incumbent local carrier, Verizon. Cox will be using circuit-switched technology in Northern Virginia. Cox’s Northern Virginia cable system includes franchises in Fairfax County and Fredericksburg. Cox said it is already the third largest local exchange carrier in Virginia, with existing service in two other Cox markets – Hampton Roads and Roanoke.
This marks the 13th telephony market nationwide for Cox. Cox Digital Telephone has more than 1 million residential and commercial customers across 12 telephone markets. http://www.cox.com
- In December 2003, Cox Communications launched its first VoIP-based cable telephony service in Roanoke, Virginia. The VoIP architecture provides lifeline service, including Enhanced 911 and features such as call waiting, caller ID and voice mail. Cox’s self-managed VoIP architecture also supports number portability, thereby enabling customers to switch their existing phone number over to Cox Digital Telephone service.
- Cox Communications has implemented VeriSign’s NetDiscovery Service to help ensure compliance of its VoIP-based cable telephony services with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). CALEA requires carriers to assist Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in lawfully authorized surveillance. To comply, carriers often have to purchase dedicated hardware, have trained operation staff and are called upon to maintain connectivity with a variety of LEAs.