Cox is a member of the Cable WIFI alliance http://www.cablewifi.com/ and some of those cable companies use a protocol called Passpoint.
https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-certified-passpoint
https://www.timewarnercable.com/en/support/faqs/faqs-internet/twcwifihot/twcwifi-passport/what-is-twcwifi-passpoint.html
Passpoint provides mutual authentication between the access point and the end user, so you know it isn't a fake access point you are entering your user id into, and they know you are a real customer. It also encrypts the connection so other people can't eavesdrop. Cox doesn't do that in my town, Gainesville, Florida.
Does Cox use Passpoint anywhere?
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