Cox expands; e.spire financed; eLEC certified

Cox Communications last week announced the expansion of its Cox Business Services division into Wichita and surrounding communities across the state of Kansas, including Topeka, Salina, Hutchinson, Pittsburg, Manhattan, Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend and other communities.

e.spire Communications announced last week that the Bankruptcy Court of the District of Delaware approved the remaining $45 million of the $85 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing committed by a group led by Foothill Capital and Ableco Finance. The group includes e.spire Chairman George Schmitt, who invested $10 million in the DIP financing. The Court previously approved $25 million of the financing on April 10 and an additional $15 million on May 16.

eLEC Communications, an integrated communications provider of voice, data and broadband services, has gained certification to operate as a CLEC in Idaho, Mississippi, Utah and Oregon. According to the company, it is now authorized to operate in 37 states and currently provides local service in 12 of them.