Cable companies ranked highest in five of six regions in the marketing research firm’s annual study of consumers’ satisfaction with their local and long distance telephone providers. Cox Communications alone took the top spot in three of the regions. From J.D. Power and Associates:

As cable companies aggressively entice telephone customers with attractively priced service bundles, many are also outperforming traditional telephone companies in satisfying customers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Residential All-Distance Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study (SM) released today.

The study, which measures customer satisfaction with both local and long distance telephone service, finds that cable companies rank highest in customer satisfaction in five of six U.S. regions. In 2005, just one cable company—Cox—led any of the regional customer satisfaction rankings. Cox Communications now ranks highest in three regions, while newcomers Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable each rank highest in one region. Verizon is the sole traditional telephone company ranking highest in a region.

The 2006 study marks the fourth consecutive year Cox Digital Telephone has dominated in J.D. Power's West region rankings. This is the first year in which the company qualified for inclusion in the study in other regions (based on total subscribers in those areas). Click here for the full press release, “Cable Companies Dominate Customer Satisfaction Rankings for Local and Long Distance Telephone Service; Cox Communications Ranks Highest in Three Regions, While Bright House Networks, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Each Rank Highest in One Region.”