In today’s world, internet access is no longer a luxury. It is how students complete homework, seniors access healthcare, parents apply for jobs, and families stay connected to essential services.
That is why broadband affordability matters so much in communities like National City.
Over the past several months, residents across our region participated in public hearings held by the California Public Utilities Commission as part of the proposed Charter-Cox transaction. Community members spoke clearly about what families need most: affordable options, reliable service, and real support for people struggling to stay connected.
Those voices mattered.
The settlements that emerged from this process address many of the concerns raised by local residents and community organizations. That is exactly how the public process is supposed to work.
For customers in National City and throughout the South Bay, the benefits are meaningful and immediate.
The agreements create a new $20-per-month internet option for qualifying low-income households and expand eligibility so more families can participate. The plans come with no long-term contracts and predictable pricing designed to provide stability for households managing tight budgets.
For working families, that can make a real difference.
The agreements also include stronger outreach efforts to help ensure eligible residents actually know these affordable options exist. Community-based enrollment and trusted local partnerships are critical because too many families who qualify for assistance programs never hear about them.
Importantly, this effort builds on years of collaboration among local governments, schools, nonprofits, internet providers, and digital equity advocates.
Cox has long partnered with local communities on efforts to expand connectivity and opportunity, and Charter has committed through this process to continue and strengthen those investments. The settlements include support for workforce development, digital inclusion initiatives, and community connectivity programs that can help more residents participate fully in today’s economy.
That collaborative approach matters because digital equity is not reached by any one organization acting alone.
It requires providers willing to invest. Local leaders willing to prioritize access. Schools and nonprofits willing to help families navigate programs and get connected. And it requires regulatory processes that listen to community voices and translate them into practical outcomes.
The CPUC’s public participation hearings in National City gave residents a direct opportunity to speak about affordability and access challenges facing South Bay communities. Those conversations helped shape elements of the final settlements, particularly around affordability, outreach, and maintaining connectivity for vulnerable households.
That should give Californians confidence that the process worked as intended.
At a time when many public debates feel disconnected from everyday concerns, this process remained focused on practical benefits for residents:
Lower-cost internet options
Expanded eligibility for affordable plans, including for existing customers
Community-based outreach and enrollment
Investments in workforce and digital inclusion programs
These are not abstract policy ideas. They are tools that can help students succeed, help seniors stay connected to healthcare, and help working families participate more fully in modern life.
Digital equity must be a priority because we understand what is at stake when people are left behind. This agreement represents an important step forward — and an example of what can happen when communities, providers, nonprofits, and regulators work together toward shared goals. That is why we believe the CPUC should complete its review and approve this transaction as soon as possible so these consumer benefits, affordability programs, and community investments can begin reaching South Bay families without further delay.
Ron Morrison is the mayor of National City.
