Here's why Cox is suing Rhode Island's broadband office

Cox Communications has a beef with the Rhode Island broadband office. The operator fears Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funds will be used to overbuild its network in areas of the state that it said it already adequately serves. But Rhode Island's State Broadband Director Brian Thorn said Cox should have been more involved in the state’s mapping process instead of waiting until the 11th hour to complain. In late September, Cox filed a lawsuit against the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, which runs Rhode Island’s state broadband office. Cox claimed the state is using flawed internet speed data for its broadband map. Thorn said Cox waited until the very last minute to object. Rhode Island’s map challenge process ran for 90 days and was scheduled to end on July 6, 2024. Cox sent a letter to the broadband office on July 3, right before the 4th of July holiday, to object to certain aspects of the process.