NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) March 8, 2005--Cox Communications Inc.'s (BBB-/Stable/A-3) announcement yesterday that it is exploring a sale of four cable operations serving approximately 900,000 subscribers has no impact on Standard&Poor's ratings or outlook on the company or its parent, Cox Enterprises Inc. (BBB-/Stable/A-3), with which it is rated on a consolidated basis. The company indicated that it would use proceeds from potential transactions to reduce debt. However, the ratings and outlook already incorporate expectations that Cox Enterprises will trim consolidated debt to EBITDA to the low 4x area by the end of 2006, from the mid 5x area as of Sept. 30, 2004 (which was pro forma for the $8.5 billion debt-financed acquisition of minority shares
