This article draws gratefully on prior extensive work by USTelecom, Free State Foundation, NCTA, Broadband Breakfast and others.

Digital connectivity is essential to today’s economy and to our everyday lives. Broadband infrastructure in the U.S. faces a growing threat, however: theft and vandalism of telecommunications facilities. Network vandalism threatens the communications infrastructure on which other critical services rely, including first responders, hospitals, transportation, energy transmission, public utilities and more. Since many households and businesses now use the internet for phone calls, video-streaming or credit-card processing, an attack also interrupts a huge range of services on which people regularly depend.  

When thieves climbed telephone poles to remove sections of copper wiring in Kings County, Washington, for example, they also cut broadband fiber-optic cable and disrupted broadband service to hundreds of customers. The problem isn’t isolated, even within this one county: a spokesperson for the affected broadband provider noted that the company sees several incidents like this one each week, and they’re growing in frequency across the country. Sometimes fiber-optic cable suffers collateral damage from thieves motivated by high prices for scrap metal to break into telecom installations. Other times, vandals directly target broadband infrastructure for disruption or destruction for reasons of their own.

Escalating Threat to Communications Infrastructure

As we’ve seen, communications infrastructure vandalism can have serious consequences. Consumers are left without essential services, businesses experience operational disruptions, and emergency communications can be compromised. Service providers face a substantial financial burden when they have to repair and replace damaged infrastructure or offer rewards for information related to the crimes. Naturally, the broader economic effects ripple through the rest of society. If we don’t address this threat to widespread broadband rollout, particularly in less-populated rural areas where police are spread thin, it can endanger projects that aim to bring more of the country under the broadband umbrella. 

Legal and Enforcement Gaps

Despite the serious consequences of these offenses, existing federal and state laws often fall short in addressing the complexities of modern communications infrastructure theft. Current statutes may not adequately cover the wide range of facilities involved, and penalties vary from state to state. In many places, they may not be commensurate with the damage inflicted, or they may not be consistently enforced

Enforcement efforts can be hindered by jurisdictional conflicts and a lack of time, staff and money needed to find the people involved and to prevent future incidents. In some places, broadband infrastructure expands so fast that police may not know the facilities thieves have in their sights. The rapid pace of technological advancement further complicates the legal landscape, since existing legal definitions may not cover new types of networks, leaving more gaps in the law that criminals can exploit.

Stronger Legal Protections Needed

To effectively combat the theft and destruction of communications infrastructure, we need comprehensive legal reforms. Key measures include:

• Expanded Legal Definitions: Updating laws to encompass all forms of broadband infrastructure, including emerging technologies and facilities.
• Enhanced Penalties: Implementing stricter penalties that reflect the severity of the offenses and serve as a deterrent to potential criminals.
• Improved Enforcement Mechanisms: Strengthening coordination among federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies to ensure swift and effective responses to incidents. 
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating communities about the importance of communications infrastructure and the consequences of its theft and vandalism. These campaigns can also target potential thieves to let them know that local facilities have less copper than they realize, discouraging them from cutting fiber-optic cable by mistake in their search for saleable scrap.

On this front, bipartisan federal legislation has been introduced that would criminalize the theft or destruction of privately owned network infrastructure, not just government-run facilities. The bill would create a national framework for prosecution of broadband vandalism and theft.

The Role of Community and Other Key Stakeholders

While legislative action is crucial, local communities and other critical stakeholders can also play an important role. Communities are the front line of defense—public vigilance and reporting of suspicious activities can help authorities stop theft and vandalism before they happen. Public education campaigns may help local residents to understand the importance of the broadband facilities near them and to realize that vandalism can have serious consequences.

Law enforcement agencies obviously play a pivotal role. By investigating incidents, strengthening patrols in high-risk areas and coordinating with service providers, they can deter infrastructure-related crimes and respond to them quickly. Effective prosecution through the courts is equally vital, as appropriate sentencing ensures consequences match the severity of the offense. If potential thieves think they can skate by without effective punishment, they’re more likely to attempt the crime.

Another essential link in this chain is the scrap metal and recycling industry. Requiring strict documentation, seller identification, and transaction reporting can disrupt the black-market supply chain that criminals exploit. Minnesota now requires copper recyclers to obtain a state license, for example. If thieves believe they can’t sell stolen copper, they may be less likely to break into facilities they think might contain it.

Insurance companies and educational institutions can support this effort. Insurers can incentivize preventive measures by offering better coverage for protected infrastructure, while schools and training programs can prepare the next generation of technicians, engineers, and first responders to prioritize and understand infrastructure security.

This broad coalition—community members, law enforcement, courts, regulators, recyclers, educators, and insurers—must work together to protect one a vital national asset: reliable, secure broadband connectivity.

The theft and destruction of communications infrastructure is not just a criminal issue but is also a real threat to a resource that has become an essential thread in the fabric of modern society. Addressing this challenge requires the multifaceted approach described above, combining robust legal frameworks, effective enforcement, and active community engagement. By taking decisive action now, we can safeguard the digital backbone that supports our economy, security, and daily lives.