2025-13
Curbing Criminal Threats to Critical Communications Infrastructure
Sponsored by
Rep. Rafael Anchía (TX) and Rep. Geraldo Reyes (CT)
Reported to the Caucus by the
NHCSL Broadband and Technology Task Force
Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval (OK), Chair
Unanimously ratified by the Caucus on November 22, 2025
WHEREAS, in Resolution 2022-10, Making the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Permanent, this Caucus explained that its body of work on broadband is premised on the understanding that broadband has become as essential as, and even essential to, other necessities for which the government subsidizes low-income Americans like healthcare and education, and underscored the importance of mitigating the impacts of the digital divide; and,
WHEREAS, thus, vital sectors of society — including public safety, healthcare, energy, transportation, finance, information technology, government and education — increasingly depend on the reliability and resilience of communications networks; and,
WHEREAS, according to Pew Research,[1] three quarters of Hispanic adults have home broadband[2] and over 90% own a smartphone; and,
WHEREAS, copper is a key component in many communications facilities, and its rising market value has incentivized criminal actors to target critical infrastructure across multiple industries (e.g., public utilities, transportation, and communications), steal the copper and sell it to scrap metal recyclers; and,
WHEREAS, importantly, the industry reports that “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 [because] fiber components are often mistaken for the copper wires in telephone networks.”[3] and,
WHEREAS, between June and December 2024, there were more than 5,770 reported incidents of theft and/or vandalism against communications infrastructure, which collectively affected more than 1.5 million Americans, leaving many unable to access the Internet or emergency services such as 911;[4] and,
WHEREAS, while there is no correlation between Hispanic populations and the incidence of copper thefts or attempted thefts,[5] Hispanic communities were especially impacted by criminally provoked network outages because a disproportionate number were in areas where Hispanics concentrate, especially California and Texas which account for half the incidents;[6] and,
WHEREAS, several of the cited incidents also provoked fires (including arson) an issue of special concern for many Hispanic communities as this Caucus noted in Resolution 2024-04, Policies for Wildfire Mitigation, Management and Resiliency;[7] and,
WHEREAS, the vast majority of the targeted infrastructure was aerial or at least above ground, heightening the need to accelerate the transition from the old POTS network that this Caucus called for in Resolution 2024-17, Eliminating Outdated Telephone Network Requirements for Modern Communications Technologies, which are now only relied on by fewer than 1 percent of the population;[8] and,
WHEREAS, combating these harmful and potentially life-threatening crimes requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach, including strengthening scrap metal regulation and closer collaboration among the communications industry, the scrap metal industry, state and local jurisdictions, law enforcement and lawmakers; and,
WHEREAS, while details vary, states are enhancing regulations of secondary metal recyclers and dealers[9] requiring licensing or registration; and more detailed transaction records such as retention of digital copies of the seller’s photo ID; photos of the seller at the time of sale; photo evidence of the property being sold (including vehicle and license plate where applicable); detailed transaction descriptions; prohibitions on cash transactions for restricted metals; tag and hold policies; and prompt electronic reporting of such purchases to law enforcement with comprehensive identifying information; and making certain clearly infrastructural scrap items illegal to possess without the acquiescence of their typical owner. These provisions raise barriers for bad actors attempting to sell stolen materials and reduce the economic incentives that drive ongoing attacks on critical communications infrastructure; and,
WHEREAS, several states have typified specific felonies for intentional damage to critical infrastructure, including communications infrastructure, and crimes for purchase of those materials by junk recyclers and scrap dealers who knew or should have known the criminal provenance of those materials; and,
WHEREAS, as a follow-up to the Heavy Metal Task Force it created last year, the Los Angeles City Council recently created a Metal and Wire Theft Reward program, which city officials hope will curb crimes against public infrastructure such as copper wire theft.[10]
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators reiterates its call for eliminating outdated telephone network requirements and calls on state and local governments to:
- Collaborative efforts by regulators, legislators, law enforcement, municipalities, and communications providers to address this growing threat, including the allocation of resources to task forces and law enforcement initiatives; and,
- Strengthen junk recycler and scrap metal dealer laws and regulations, including robust identification checks (including expected owner presumption exception requirements), record-keeping, and reporting requirements to make it significantly more difficult for criminals to profit from stolen materials; and,
- Evaluate typifying a specific felony with heightened penalties for intentional damage to critical infrastructure, including communications infrastructure and crimes for purchase of those materials by junk recyclers and scrap dealers who knew or should have known the criminal provenance of those materials.
IN ITS MEETING OF NOVEMBER 5, 2025, THE NHCSL BROADBAND AND TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THIS RESOLUTION TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL.
THE NHCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION ON NOVEMBER 14, 2025, IN A VIRTUAL MEETING.
THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS UNANIMOUSLY RATIFIED THIS RESOLUTION AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 22, 2025 IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.
[1] Risa Gelles-Watnick, Americans’ Use of Mobile Technology and Home Broadband (Pew Research, Jan 31, 2024).
[2] Compared to 68% of Non-Hispanic Black adults, 83% of non-Hispanic white adults, and 84% of non-Hispanic Asian adults.
[3]2025 Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure, pp. 4-5 (NCTA, CTIA, US Telecom, NTCA, April 9, 2025)
[4] Id., at p. 8.
[5] Not all heavily Hispanic states have a high incidence. For example, the per capita rate in New Mexico is less than half of California’s, Florida’s rate is less than one twentieth, and Connecticut’s rate is less than one one-hundredths.
[6]2025 Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure, supra note 3, at p. 18. And also see pp. 4, 6-7 (linking to incidents in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington state, and throughout Texas). And see Michael Corkery, Mark Abramson, Metal Thieves Are Stripping America’s Cities (The New York Times, July 9, 2024) (noting that “in Las Vegas and surrounding communities, more than 970,000 feet of electrical wiring, the equivalent of 184 miles, have gone missing from streetlights over the past two years”).
[7]2025 Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure, supra note 3, at p. 18.
[8] Blumberg SJ, Luke JV, Wireless substitution: Early release of estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, July-December 2024, p. 4 (National Center for Health Statistics. June 2025).
[9] See for example, California AB 476 (2025, Assembly Member Mark González), approved October 13, 2025. And see
[10] City News Service, LA City Council gives final approval for metal and wire theft reward program (NBC 4 LA, October 21, 2025).