Charter Communications has offered to acquire Atlanta-based Cox Communications, a $34.5 billion merger that would combine two of the top three cable companies in the U.S. Cox is the third largest cable television company in the country, with more than 6.5 million digital cable, internet, telephone, and home security customers. It has a strong foothold in states spanning from California to Virginia. Charter Communications, known more widely as Spectrum, has more than 32 million customers in 41 states. MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/cox-charter-merger/507-678aaf46-8bcd-483b-817c-146a3299a7c8