Urgent Call to Protect Telecom Infrastructure in the US
Four major telecom trade groups in the US are urging federal agencies to take stronger steps to protect the country’s communications infrastructure, as reported by Data Centre Dynamics. In a letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel, the groups express concern over the increasing frequency and coordination of attacks on telecom networks. They emphasize the need for stricter laws and penalties to combat these threats.
The letter, jointly signed by the Internet & Television Association, ACA Connects, NTCA, The Rural Broadband Association, and USTelecom, underscores the current challenges faced by telecom providers in dealing with a surge of theft and sabotage incidents. The groups highlight the growing menace of organized attacks targeting essential communications systems.
These attacks typically involve the theft of copper or fiber equipment, as well as deliberate damage to network lines, resulting in disruptions to phone and internet services for numerous individuals. Recent incidents have been described in severe terms, with Charter Communications labeling one act as an “act of domestic terrorism.”
A recent report from the four groups revealed over 5,770 reported incidents of theft and vandalism against telecom infrastructure in the last seven months of 2024. The resultant impact led to more than 1.5 million people losing internet access, with the associated costs running into millions.
The groups caution that attacks are evolving to pose more significant dangers resembling national security threats. With telecom networks being recognized as one of the critical infrastructure sectors by the Department of Homeland Security, disruptions can have cascading effects on emergency services, airports, military bases, and other sectors dependent on stable communication.
The letter emphasizes that critical infrastructure attacks present a substantial national security risk, showcasing an escalation in sophistication, coordination, and intent to disrupt services, carrying potential economic and societal repercussions.
The groups are urging the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to endorse stricter penalties for crimes against telecom infrastructure. They advocate for amendments to federal law, particularly Title 18, Section 1362 of the US Code, to explicitly classify attacks on private communications networks, not solely government-operated systems, as federal offenses.
Additionally, they seek support for a new bill, the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025 (H.R. 2784), granting federal authorities the capability to prosecute individuals involved in theft or damage to private telecom facilities and impose penalties.
Advocating for this bill reinforces the commitment to safeguarding critical communications infrastructure and holding perpetrators accountable for disruptive actions.
Incidents such as the recent arrest of Jeremiah Ramage in Buckeye, Arizona, for allegedly stealing and selling equipment from cell tower sites highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat such infractions.
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