Attacks on the lines that carry internet, phone, and 911 service climbed sharply last year. States are acting. The problem is still outrunning the fixes.
A year ago, we told you this was happening more often. That was August 2025. Now the full-year numbers are in. The trend didn’t just continue. It accelerated.
- In 2025, there were 18,327 reported incidents of network vandalism and theft nationwide, a record high and a 59% increase over 2024, according to NCTA.
- These attacks disrupted service for 8 million customers and cost consumers an estimated $294 million to $1.47 billion, many times the value of the stolen materials.
Why the Stakes Keep Climbing
Some attackers are after valuable materials like copper, even though most modern infrastructure is fiber-based and contains little to none. But a share of the incidents is vandalism rather than theft. Either way, the lines that get cut often serve 911 centers, first responders, hospitals, and homes.
The damage isn’t spread evenly. California and Texas alone account for more than half of all reported incidents nationwide, with Los Angeles logging over 1,100 attacks last year. But the ten hardest-hit states run from Missouri to Washington to Georgia. This is a coast-to-coast problem, not a regional one.
When these lines are cut or equipment is stolen, the effects can ripple fast:
- 911 call centers go dark
- Hospitals lose access to patient records
- Home internet and phone service goes out for hours or days
- Banking transactions stall
- First responders lose contact with dispatch
Bottom line: These aren’t just isolated crimes. A year later, they’re an even bigger threat to public safety and the systems we rely on daily.
The Response
States are moving faster than they were a year ago:
- More than 23 states introduced legislation in 2026, and 13 have already passed new protections. None of that shows up in the 2025 numbers yet.
- Colorado: Jared Polis signed HB26-1101 into law in May 2026, tightening scrap-metal sale rules after copper thefts put 911 service at risk across the state.
- Connecticut, Oregon, and Virginia also adopted felony-level penalties for infrastructure vandalism this year.
Internet providers are acting too: installing monitoring tools, upgrading security, offering rewards for tips, and working with local law enforcement to head off more attacks.
Yes, but: A serious gap remains. Federal law treats attacks on government-owned systems as a federal crime, but most private networks, including those that carry 911, hospital, and banking traffic, fall into a legal gray area. State law only fills part of it. Twenty-eight states now treat these attacks as a felony. Twenty-two do not, so the same crime carries very different consequences depending on where it happens.
The Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act (H.R. 2784) would close that gap. It’s been sitting in Congress since April 2025.
Lasting protection will take action on several fronts: tighter scrap metal rules, consistent state laws, better coordination, and stronger penalties.
How you can help: If you see something suspicious near a utility pole or network box, report it to your internet provider or local law enforcement. That small step helps keep your service and your community connected.