Cox Communications has launched several new Internet service features to help customers protect and store information and keep their families safer online. The comprehensive set of tools is free for all Cox High Speed Internet subscribers and includes Cox Security Suite Plus Powered By McAfee®, McAfee Family Protection and Cox Secure Online Backup.

“In addition to award-winning speed and service, Cox offers robust features that provide exceptional value and convenience and help ensure a positive and safe online experience,” said Philip Nutsugah, vice president of voice and data product management and development.

The new features are available in all Cox markets and are automatically included with Cox High Speed Internet Service. Customers can activate each feature and establish custom settings via Cox’s dedicated site or from the Internet Tools portal.

Cox Security Suite Plus Powered By McAfee® provides anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, email and instant message protection and SiteAdvisor® Plus Web site rating on up to five PCs or Macs.

McAfee Family Protection allows parents to shield children of all ages from exposure to inappropriate content, social networking risks, strangers and other online threats.  The software can also be used to manage the amount of time children spend online and to filter online TV shows, movies, explicit lyrics in iTunes™ music and objectionable YouTube videos.

Cox Secure Online Backup keeps files safe and secure via automatic backup. Customers can store photos, videos, music, personal information and documents securely online for additional protection from loss due to hard drive failure, fire, theft or flooding. A virtual drive feature on the desktop allows easy drag and drop into the online vault and files can be shared with friends and family according to custom access settings, anytime, anywhere. Storage amount included is free and varies by tier:

• Starter and Essential – 1 GB
• Preferred – 5 GB
• Premier – 50 GB
• Ultimate – Unlimited

In addition to offering enhanced security and backup capabilities, Cox continues to educate and empower parents, caregivers and teens about safe communications behaviors through its Take Charge! resources online and supporting programs nationwide.

Cox Communication’s High Speed Internet service was recently rated “Fastest in the U.S.” by PCMag.com, 44 percent faster than the average Internet service provider.

Cox has deployed next-generation cable broadband DOCSIS 3.0 technology to all its service areas.

Cox Communications today officially introduced its “Unbelievably Fair(SM)” mobile phone plans in San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif. The addition of these markets completes Cox’s rollout of wireless service in California. Late last year, Orange County, Calif. was one of the company’s first markets to launch Cox Wireless.

Today, Cox Wireless is also available in Omaha, Neb., Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., Rhode Island, Hampton Roads, Roanoke and Northern Virginia and Cox communities in Connecticut and Cleveland, Ohio. By the end of this year, Cox Wireless will be available in more than 50% of its footprint, including Topeka and Wichita, Kansas and much of Northwest Arkansas.

“Beginning today, Cox Wireless is now available across our entire California footprint,” said Kelly Williams, Cox’s vice president of wireless products and operations. “In Orange County and across our Wireless markets, customers are responding very enthusiastically to Cox Wireless. We are excited to bring our unbelievably fair approach to wireless to consumers in San Diego and Santa Barbara.”

Adding to its rich value proposition, including MoneyBack Minutes(SM) and Bundle Benefits(SM), Cox’s new Talk List provides another way for qualified Cox Wireless customers to get more value and save calling minutes. Customers subscribing to monthly wireless plans of 800 minutes or more can enjoy unlimited free calling between any of the numbers on their Talk List*. In addition, the company has also recently introduced a new Mexico Calling Plan to lower per minute rates to mobile and landline phones in Mexico, especially along the border like Ciudad Juarez.International Plans are also available.

Cox Communications announced today that Rob Smallwood has joined the company’s technology organization as vice president of enterprise development. In this role, Rob will provide strategic direction for applications and systems development and maintenance of current and future technologies used to support Cox services and operations. He will also identify new technologies and tools to support and improve operations and data delivery across the enterprise.

“Rob has a history of successfully implementing strategic business and technology programs based on a comprehensive understanding of industry and technology trends and has the ability to communicate complex issues to stakeholders at all levels of the company,” said Kevin Hart, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Cox Communications. “The efficiency of internal operational tools directly impacts our ability to serve customers; Rob will work to optimize, acquire and build these capabilities at all levels.”

Immediately prior to joining Cox, Smallwood led Microsoft’s premier services for the telecommunications and media sector. In this role, he supported the company’s North American market and acted as strategy leader for cloud based application development, outsourcing and hosting solutions, including premier support for Microsoft IPTV.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Rob spent three years in senior technology leadership positions at Level 3 Communications, managing a large IT and enterprise PMO organization focused on post-merger system integration following multiple acquisitions. He also was a leader in the operations support systems practice at Ernst & Young Management Consulting/Capgemini, where he worked on projects with a variety of customers including a significant number of the world’s telecommunication software vendors and Service Providers.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Rob served as an Air Force officer in several roles supporting the management of global development programs that transitioned technology from research and development environments.  His final role in the Air Force was chief of corporate information systems for the organization supporting all human-machine program development.  He also holds a master’s degree in computer information systems from St. Mary’s University.

Cox Communications announced today that Advanced TV customers will have free access to even more of the hottest television series on television this fall On DEMAND on MyPrimeTime, including ABC’s PanAm, FOX’s highly anticipated The X Factor and NBC’s Parks and Recreation,

“We have expanded our MyPrimetime On DEMAND library once again to include even more popular programming,” said Bob Nocera, director of new video services. “September marks the season premiers for many television series, and our Advanced TV customers can catch up on these shows when it’s convenient for them.”

New to Cox’s MyPrimetime assortment this fall is FOX’s highly-anticipated singing competition series, The X Factor, which is hosted by Steve Jones and featuring Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul as judges. The X Factor  and other popular shows will be available for viewing On DEMAND in MyPrimetime starting the day after the shows air on the network.

MyPrimetime includes hundreds of popular shows from more than 20 networks, including programming from ABC, FOX, NBC, AMC, TBS, TNT, Disney, Comedy Central and more. To access programming in MyPrimetime, Advanced TV customers simply use their remote to tune to the On DEMAND menu on channel 1 and select the “MyPrimetime” category.

Cox Communication’s High Speed Internet service was recently rated “Fastest in the U.S.” by PCMag.com, 44 percent faster than the average Internet service provider, adding another accolade to its award-winning broadband data portfolio.

“Independent third parties have consistently recognized Cox as a broadband leader and we continue to aggressively enhance the speeds and features of our services to deliver the capabilities our customers need,” said Philip Nutsugah, vice president, data and voice product development and management.

Cox’s fastest Internet provider ranking was based on data gathered by Speedtest.net for PCMag.com and an index number that weights download speed as 80 percent of importance and upload speed at the remaining 20 percent.

Cox topped the list with an average 18.51 Mbps download, 4.80 Mbps upload and an index score of 15.77. Cable peers rounded out the top three, further indicating the industry’s broadband supremacy over telco-provided DSL.

In the FCC’s comprehensive Measuring Broadband America study released in August, cable also performed better than DSL, on average, delivering higher percentages of advertised upload and download speeds during both 24 hour and peak periods.

Cox has deployed next-generation cable broadband DOCSIS 3.0 technology to all its service areas to enable even faster speeds, available with Cox High Speed Internet Ultimate tier, up to 55 Mbps downloads with Powerboost®*. Cox was a pioneer in offering tiers of Internet service that give customers choices for their budget and provides five options in most markets. The company has also developed a Speed Advisor tool to assist customers in deciding what service level best supports their digital lifestyle.

Cox Communications is celebrating the culture and contributions of Hispanic Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month, and throughout the year, by highlighting culturally relevant programming available On Demand as well as committing to air educational public service announcements (PSA) as part of its partnership with The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). This month also marks the launch of Cox’s new marketing campaign that includes popular personality Yarel Ramos.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52200-cox-communications-celebrates-hispanic-heritage-month

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110915/MM67276 )

On Demand Content:

Cox is highlighting a variety of programming, including selections that focus on Hispanic American history, documentaries that shed light on education and housing issues as well as cooking shows and entertaining programs.

Cox Advanced TV customers can look for these titles and more in Cox’s “Top Picks” as well as the “Movies on Demand” sections.  Programs range in price, starting at free or for as little as $1:

• Quinceanera (A Sony Pictures Classic Release)
• Camino a la Corona 2011 (Telemundo)
• Mira Quien Baila! (Look Who’s Dancing!) (Univision)
• The Motorcycle Diaries (Universal)
• Latino List (HBO)
• Tropico de Sangre  (HBO Latino)

“Cox is deeply committed to offering a rich diversity of educational and entertaining programming, such as the influential and award-winning selections that celebrate Hispanic heritage,” said Bob Nocera, director of new video services at Cox Communications.  ”It gives our customers an opportunity to revisit favorite titles, or explore a new genre of programming, with the convenience of On Demand.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC):

As part of its long-standing commitment to bridging the digital divide and its national partnership with LULAC, Cox has also committed to donate $500,000 worth of broadcast time to an educational PSA that will run throughout the year.  LULAC’s PSA was designed to raise awareness of the importance of Internet access in a child’s education, and highlights the fact that 77% of teachers K-12 assign homework that requires Internet use.

“We are proud of the partnership with Cox Communications and its dedication to providing Internet, phone and television service to the Latino community,” said Brent Wilkes, LULAC’s national executive director. ”Our goal is to empower our communities with Internet access for important tasks such as school work, job training, job searches, managing money and English language courses.”

Hispanic Marketing Campaign:

This month also marks the kick-off of Cox’s new marketing campaign featuring Yarel Ramos.

“Cox has been a part of the Hispanic community for years, and we’re excited to introduce a fresh campaign to this audience,” said Tony Maldonado.  ”Yarel is passionate about working with the community and widely admired for her work with Mun2 and not-for-profit organizations, and we’re excited to work with her on this campaign.”

The campaign includes :30 and :60 Spanish and English-language television and radio spots, direct mail, print, online banners and a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.  The campaign will run in Cox’s Arizona, California, Las Vegas, Oklahoma and New England markets.  The campaign is designed to drive traffic into Cox retail locations, calls into the call center where representatives are available to discuss customers’ options in Spanish or English, or to Cox’s web sites at www.cox.com or www.cox.com/espanol.

Cox Communications has appointed Rose Kirkland as vice president of relationships, requirements and portfolio management.

In this role, she will manage capital planning and project prioritization processes from concept through implementation.

Kirkland will also serve as the primary point of contact for business leaders and will be responsible for defining business requirements during the planning and analysis phase of technology initiatives and for end-to-end program management of delivered solutions.

This will be a critical role as the company continually builds its technology organization to optimally support business needs.

“The telecommunications industry is more competitive than ever before, and technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace. In this environment, it is critical that our technology organization partners effectively with Cox leaders to achieve mission clarity and drive delivery through common processes,” said Kevin Hart, executive vice president and chief technology officer. “Rose will help ensure that business requirements are clearly understood and projects are delivered on time and within scope and budget.”

Kirkland’s experience and leadership in transformation projects will be valuable as Cox evolves its technology organization and embarks on eventual projects such as OSS/BSS replacement.

Before joining Cox, Kirkland led large business transformation programs for Capgemini’s Communications clients in the U.S. and Europe, including planning and roadmap development, product analysis and selection, architecture definition, software development, quality assurance, user training, data migration and system deployment.

Kirkland also spent 12 years at BellSouth as executive director of information technology – software delivery. In this role, she directed a global delivery team of 350 resources and was responsible for all application architecture, software development and implementation for BellSouth’s retail billing systems, including several large transformation projects. While at BellSouth, Kirkland also served as program manager for DSL delivery, director of performance measurement and third party testing and other executive positions.

She holds a B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College and a master’s certificate in project management from George Washington University. Kirkland is married to Jason Chambers and has one daughter, Katie.