Answer: The FCC just approved a merger between cable giants Charter (Spectrum) and Cox Communications, which basically means two of the biggest internet providers are combining their operations in certain markets. For small businesses in the Coachella Valley, this doesn't directly affect us right now since we're primarily a Spectrum market, but it's part of a MUCH bigger trend that every business owner needs to understand: fewer internet provider choices, potentially higher prices, and the reality that you need a backup connectivity plan. Period.

Look, I get it... you just want reliable internet that doesn't cost a fortune 😭. But here's the reality of what's happening in the telecom world, and why you need to pay attention even if Cox doesn't operate in our area.

Why Cable Company Mergers Should Matter to Your Business

I've been in tech for 20+ years, and I've watched this pattern play out over and over. When big telecom companies merge, they talk about "efficiencies" and "better service." What I'm seeing in practice? Less competition means less incentive to keep prices down or improve service. Basically, when there are fewer players in the game, YOU have less negotiating power.

Here in the Coachella Valley, most businesses are dealing with Spectrum as their primary cable internet option. Some areas have access to AT&T fiber, maybe Frontier in certain spots. But that's it. And when the national landscape consolidates even more, it sets a precedent. These companies watch each other. When one raises prices or changes terms, the others follow. It's not a conspiracy... it's just how oligopolies work.

What really frustrates me is how these corporations treat small businesses like commodities. You're not a valued customer to them... you're a revenue line item. They don't care if their price increase blows your monthly budget. They don't care if their service outage costs you thousands in lost sales. And mergers like this? They make that dynamic WORSE, not better.

The REAL Risk: Single Points of Failure

Here's what I want every Coachella Valley business owner to understand. Whether this specific merger affects you or not, the bigger issue is this: if your business depends on ONE internet connection from ONE provider, you are VULNERABLE. Done. That's it.

Let's say you run a restaurant in Palm Desert with a cloud-based POS system. Your internet goes down (and it WILL go down eventually), and suddenly you can't process credit cards, you can't send orders to the kitchen display, you can't access your reservation system. You're basically operating blind. How much revenue do you lose in an hour? Two hours? A whole dinner service?

Or imagine you're a boutique in Rancho Mirage during season. Your internet connection drops, and you can't process sales. Tourists don't wait around... they go to the next shop. Boom. Lost revenue you'll never get back.

This isn't hypothetical fear-mongering. I've seen this happen repeatedly. And when there are fewer internet providers due to mergers and consolidation, you have fewer options when things go wrong. You're at THEIR mercy for repairs, for pricing, for everything.

What You Need to Do RIGHT NOW

Okay, so what's the practical takeaway here? How do you protect your business in a landscape where cable companies keep getting bigger and you keep getting fewer choices? Here's what I recommend:

1. Set up a backup internet connection. This is NOT optional anymore. Get a business cellular hotspot or a second internet line from a different provider (different technology, ideally). If Spectrum is your primary, consider AT&T cellular as backup. Yes, it costs money. But compare that cost to losing a day of revenue. Which is more expensive?

2. Document your internet performance. Run speed tests regularly and keep records. When your provider tries to raise prices, you'll have data showing whether you're actually getting what you're paying for. Most businesses are paying for speeds they NEVER actually receive. That's ammunition for negotiation.

3. Read your service agreement carefully. What are the terms? What happens if service goes down? What's the SLA (service level agreement)? Most residential-grade business internet has basically NO guarantees. If uptime is critical (and it is), you might need to upgrade to a business-class line with actual contractual commitments.

4. Consider alternative technologies. Starlink and other satellite options are getting better. Fixed wireless is available in some areas. 5G home internet is expanding. You have more options than you think... you just have to look beyond the big cable company that's been your default for years.

The Bottom Line for Coachella Valley Businesses

This Charter-Cox merger is just one more example of a trend that's been happening for decades: consolidation in telecom. Fewer companies, less competition, more power concentrated in corporate hands that frankly don't care about YOUR small business success.

What I'm telling every business owner I talk to is this: you cannot afford to be passive about your internet connectivity anymore. It's too critical. Your POS system runs on it. Your phone system probably runs on it (VoIP). Your security cameras. Your cloud accounting. Your email. Everything. And if one cable company controls your access to all of that... you're in a very vulnerable position.

Take control of what you can control. Set up redundancy. Document performance. Negotiate from a position of knowledge. And don't just accept whatever your provider tells you is "standard." Because standard for THEM means maximum profit. Standard for YOU should mean maximum reliability and value.

If you're running a business in Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, or anywhere in the Coachella Valley and you're worried about your internet reliability or costs, let's talk. We help businesses set up proper connectivity solutions with backup systems, performance monitoring, and configurations that actually match your REAL needs... not what some cable company sales rep is trying to upsell you on. We've been serving this community since 2018, and honestly? I'm tired of seeing local businesses get squeezed by corporate giants who don't understand or care about our unique needs here in the desert. Let's build you something better. 🚀