April 9, 2025
All over America on a daily basis the services provided by our critical telecommunications infrastructure is being disrupted. Not by cybercriminals but by ordinary thieves and vandals. This crisis not only costs broadband providers millions of dollars, more importantly, it leaves consumers with disrupted service and costly downtime. And unfortunately, it is getting worse by the day.
The rising market value of copper, which is used in legacy communications facilities, has provided bad actors with an economic incentive to target multiple industries’ infrastructure in an effort to find copper. The bad actors then sell this metal and other stolen communications equipment. In an updated study published today by the telecommunications industry, the data shows that critical telecommunications infrastructure has experienced more than 5,700 intentional incidents of theft and vandalism between June to December 2024. In the indiscriminate search for copper, even modern communications facilities, such as fiber-optic transmission lines and wireless communications towers that have no copper, have been sabotaged.
When we talk about the real life, day-to-day implications of downed networks we need to remember the families that can’t reach 911 in an emergency, the older Americans who cannot talk to their doctors and kids who can’t do their homework online simply because someone who in attempt to steal copper has damaged critical telecommunications infrastructure. This does not have to happen on a large scale. Local landline cuts can disrupt the lives of many including businesses, public safety providers and even banking and airline operations. All of these incidents have an impact on our economy and pose national security risks.
Furthermore, this is not limited to one area of the country. Copper theft is on the rise, leading criminals to cut vital communication lines across the United States. Currently, some states have strict laws, enhanced penalties and enforcement measures, however those measures are not ubiquitous. There is an urgent need for comprehensive legislation and coordinated efforts. Several states are in the process of introducing new legislation during their current legislative sessions to stem the tide of this crisis. For example, Kentucky recently passed a law strengthening penalties for such theft, setting an example for other states. Federal action is also needed to impose harsher penalties and protect communication infrastructure nationwide.
The effort to disincentivize and crack down on this threat should also be extended to the federal level as well. Congress should act to protect communications infrastructure, similar to energy facilities and transportation networks, by imposing federal penalties on acts of theft and vandalism and treating damage to communications networks similar to the destruction of other federal government-operated and controlled communications infrastructure.
Our industry is actively engaged in raising awareness and developing solutions it is putting before legislators and law enforcement officials. However, we also need collaboration with the scrap metal industry and local law enforcement and state and local prosecutors.
Action on this issue is critical. Collaboration is essential. Combatting this crisis head on is necessary so that telecommunications service to Americans and the security of our infrastructure is not compromised.