Communications Industry Unites to Combat Rising Attacks on Critical Networks

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Two reports released at last week’s fourth Telecom Industry Summit: Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure reveal an escalation in criminal attacks on broadband and communications networks, with over 18,000 incidents in 2025 disrupting service for 11.8 million customers nationwide.  

The updated report, “Protecting the Nation’s Critical Communications Infrastructure from Theft & Vandalism,”details the scope of these attacks and their daily impact across the country.  In addition, an updated economic analysis, “The Real Costs of Communications Outages Due to Infrastructure Theft or Vandalism,” by Edward Lopez, Ph.D., estimates that such disruptions imposed societal costs, mostly borne by consumers, ranging from $294 million to $1.47 billion in 2025.

“These reports underscore a troubling trend: attacks are increasing, costs are rising, and consumers are bearing the burden,” states the report backed by Comcast, Charter Communications, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, NCTA, USTelecom, CTIA, ACA Connects, WIA, and other organizations. “These incidents can disrupt emergency response and public safety communications, as well as business operations, healthcare, transportation, and everyday connectivity. The resulting outages can leave communities without critical communications services, while repairs and replacements can cost millions of dollars,” states the report.

Industry leaders from the organizations mentioned above met with key stakeholders to discuss efforts to better protect communications infrastructure, strengthen coordination with law enforcement, and advance policies aimed at safeguarding essential networks. FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty delivered a keynote address at the event, Inside Towers reported.

Key findings from the updated report show the scale of the problem: 

  • With an average of 1,527 incidents per month, there was a 59 percent increase in attacks since 2024.
  • The surge in attacks is not random. It’s being driven by a combination of economic incentives tied to copper theft, including mistaken attempts to steal copper from fiber facilities that contain no copper, as well as insufficient enforcement, inconsistent prosecution, and regulatory gaps. 

So far in 2026, more than 23 states have introduced legislation, and 13 states have passed new laws strengthening protections for critical communications infrastructure. Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, and Virginia adopted felony-level protections, continuing a broader wave of state action from 2025 and prior years.

Municipalities have also formed task forces, increased coordination with law enforcement, and worked more closely with providers to identify theft patterns, support investigations, improve rapid response times, strengthen evidence sharing, and help ensure cases are referred for appropriate prosecution.

At the federal level, H.R. 2784, the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025, has been introduced to criminalize attacks on privately owned communications networks, Inside Towers reported.

With attacks rising and consumer costs mounting, urgent action is needed, say the summit participants. They’ve urged policymakers, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors to treat theft and vandalism targeting communications networks as serious attacks on critical infrastructure. “Addressing this threat will require stronger scrap-metal oversight, clearer critical infrastructure protections, enhanced penalties, and deeper coordination among providers, law enforcement, municipalities, prosecutors, and policymakers,” according to industry organizations.

Participants also encouraged law enforcement officials to prioritize investigation of theft and vandalism incidents affecting communications networks and urged prosecutors to pursue appropriate charges where the evidence supports prosecution.