WEST WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - A bill introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly would force Cox Communications to continue to operate a customer service call center in Rhode Island.
State Rep. Raymond Hull’s bill would require any utility providing services in the state to staff a local customer service center.
Cox announced this week that it would close a West Warwick call center and lay off up to 234 local workers as part of a larger consolidation.
Hull, a Providence Democrat, says it’s not his intent to “meddle” with private businesses. But he says that while a consolidation might be a good business move, it could hurt customers. He says a business’s attempts to lower its costs should “never” take priority over the needs of customers.
A vote on the bill hasn’t been scheduled.
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