Why It Matters

Cox Enterprises is aggressively going after issues that reflect its diverse business interests ranging from broadband to child privacy issues. Cox’s advocacy directly affects broadband deployment through the $42.5 billion BEAD program, spectrum allocation decisions impacting wireless infrastructure competition, children’s privacy regulations affecting digital properties like Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, and corporate tax policy shaping infrastructure investment incentives. The company is lobbying on bills including the H.R. 1870 – SPEED for BEAD Act, S. 1748 – Kids Online Safety Act, and the H.R. 574/S. 187 – ALIGN Act.

By the Numbers

Cox Enterprises Inc. reported $600,000 in internal lobbying expenditures for Q3 2025, handled entirely by its in-house team. The company has maintained a substantial Washington presence since 2003, filing 394 total disclosures and spending approximately $73.5 million on lobbying over two decades.

Cox’s Q3 2025 lobbying team consists of four experienced professionals:

  • Katherine Kilroy Foster — Joined January 2025, brings 9 years and 4 months of Senate experience from offices of Sen. Kit Bond and Sen. Roy Blunt, focusing on agriculture, digital privacy, intellectual property, and automotive issues.
  • Stephanie Mathias — Representing Cox since January 2020 across 23 disclosures totaling nearly $17 million, covering automotive policy, taxation, broadcasting, privacy legislation, and intellectual property matters.
  • Paul Gerard Scolese — Most senior team member with lobbying experience dating to 2003 and 70 Cox disclosures; served as House Energy and Commerce Committee professional staff member October-December 2000.
  • Sonya Wendell Manfredi — Joined April 2019 after a decade with NCTA – The Internet & Television Association; holds 8 years and 1 month of congressional experience.

The Agenda

Cox Enterprises Inc. is actively engaged on telecommunications and broadband issues, particularly BEAD program implementation, spectrum policy, pole attachments, and the Universal Service Fund. Cox is also lobbying on children’s privacy legislation, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act. Additional priorities include corporate taxation, particularly the ALIGN Act, communications and broadcasting matters, intellectual property protection, agricultural workforce programs, and automotive industry policy.

Broader Context

Cox Enterprises’ Q3 2025 lobbying activity occurs amid significant regulatory shifts. The Trump administration’s June 2025 restructuring of the $42.5 billion BEAD program removed labor standards and climate mandates, creating deployment flexibility. The Sixth Circuit Court struck down net neutrality rules in January 2025, eliminating common carrier obligations. However, bipartisan momentum is building on children’s online privacy protection—the Kids Online Safety Act was reintroduced with strong support.

Between The Lines

Congress is actively reshaping broadband and technology policy affecting Cox’s operations. Cox is lobbying on the H.R. 1870 – SPEED for BEAD Act, which removes regulatory requirements from broadband deployment. Children’s privacy legislation has gained bipartisan momentum, with Cox actively lobbying on the S. 1748 – Kids Online Safety Act and S. 836 – Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act.

Competitive Landscape

Cox Enterprises is part of a coordinated industry advocacy effort. Comcast Corp. and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association pursue nearly identical positions on BEAD implementation, spectrum policy, net neutrality, online privacy, and corporate taxation. This unified front demonstrates coordinated effort to shape broadband deployment rules and federal privacy legislation.

The Bottom Line

Cox Enterprises’ Q3 2025 lobbying reflects a telecommunications sector navigating significant regulatory shifts. The company is capitalizing on a deregulatory environment favorable to broadband deployment while positioning itself to shape emerging children’s privacy legislation.