Cox Business inks Oklahoma contract

By KAREN BROWN
From CED Broadband Direct, August 14, 2002

The state of Oklahoma will be picking up the phone using Cox Business Services. The Cox Communications Inc. affiliate landed a contract worth $1.75 million with the Sooner State to provide telecommunications services to all of the buildings in the state’s Capital Complex using its hybrid fiber coax network.

It beat out a bid from SBC Communications Inc.’s Southwestern Bell subsidiary for the contract.

The contract for telecommunications includes digital voice service, data and commercial video services using a brand new Primary Rate Interface (PRI) recently installed in the state government buildings.

A Cox subsidiary, Cox Oklahoma Telcom LLC, provides regulated telephone services in the state.

The new Cox system will process 20 percent more calls than the older analog telephone lines, which at present handle about 65,000 calls hourly when the legislature is not in session.

A recently upgraded Local Area Network at the complex also will allow for file sharing and other database applications.

"Cox is proud to be the first cable company to wire lifeline services to a state capitol complex," said Mollie Andrews, vice president and general manager of Cox Business Services Oklahoma.

"As a facilities-based provider, we offer a competitive choice for reliable telecommunications services. It’s a choice that will translate into substantial benefits for the State, and ultimately, the taxpayers of Oklahoma."