3:35 PM -- Cox Communications Inc. confirmed a report that it has hired Don Hallacy, a former Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) and BellSouth exec, to lead its technology organization until it hires a permanent chief technology officer.

The move comes roughly five months after its previous CTO, Scott Hatfield, resigned "based on Cox's business needs and Scott's personal reasons." (See Cox CTO Resigns .)

"Mr. Hallacy is a seasoned business leader with nearly 30 years of experience successfully leading technology organizations, from startups to large companies," Cox said in a statement issued today.

As his background goes, Hallacy joins the MSO following exec stints at Sprint and BellSouth. Most recently, he joined BellSouth in 2002 as chief information officer of the communications group and president and COO of the BellSouth Technology Group, where he directed domestic wireline information systems, including bordering, billing, provisioning, network operational support, and customer care.

He joined Sprint in 1992 as director of application development, leaving in 1999 to become CEO of Eltrax Systems, an Atlanta-based startup focused on application services. He came back to Sprint the following year to become president of the company's Internet service.

Cox, by the way, is leasing 3G access from Sprint as the MSO continues to build out its own wireless network. (See Cox Wireless Is Go for Launch.)

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable