NAICS 334220 Quarterly Industry Report
Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipmen
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 334220Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry profile for NAICS 334220 integrates Census Bureau[5] economic data, Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] sector employment surveys, and SBA[7] size standards for the wireless and broadcast equipment sector. Our research team tracks FCC licensing data and federal procurement records relevant to communications equipment production. Quarterly updates ensure this NAICS 334220 profile reflects current Census indicators and regulatory changes.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the radio and television broadcasting and wireless communications equipmen industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 334220) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in producing broadcast transmitters and receivers, wireless communications infrastructure, cellular phones, GPS equipment, pagers, mobile data terminals, radio studio equipment, television studio and broadcasting hardware, satellite communications equipment, and antenna systems. This broad classification covers both consumer wireless devices and professional broadcast infrastructure spanning cellular base stations, two-way radio systems, microwave link equipment, and satellite earth station hardware.
The U.S. Census Bureau[5] reports roughly 583 businesses operating 656 locations with about 55,700 employees. Annual payroll exceeds $5.85 billion based on Census data. Large multinational corporations dominate cellular infrastructure and smartphone segments. Hundreds of smaller domestic firms produce two-way radio systems, public safety communications equipment, military tactical radios, broadcast studio hardware, and satellite terminal equipment for defense and commercial applications.
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], key occupations include RF engineers, embedded firmware developers, antenna designers, and electronics test technicians. Semiconductors, radio frequency integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, antenna assemblies, power amplifiers, and LCD touchscreen displays represent primary material inputs. Domestic manufacturers increasingly focus on 5G small cell infrastructure, software-defined radio platforms for military applications, and specialized broadcast equipment rather than consumer smartphone assembly, which occurs predominantly at overseas contract manufacturing facilities.
What's Included in This Industry
- Cellular base station and cell tower equipment manufacturing
- Cellular phone and smartphone manufacturing
- GPS navigation and positioning equipment production
- Radio and television broadcast transmitter manufacturing
- Two-way radio and land mobile communications equipment production
- Satellite communications terminal and earth station equipment manufacturing
- Antenna system manufacturing for broadcast and wireless applications
- Microwave radio link equipment production for point-to-point communications
- Television studio and broadcast camera equipment manufacturing
- Public safety and first responder radio communications system production
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334 |
| Industry Group | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 3342 |
| NAICS Industry | Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 33422 |
| National Industry | Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 334220 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 334210 | Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing | Manufactures wireline telephone apparatus including PBX systems and VoIP endpoints classified separately from wireless and broadcast communications equipment |
| 334290 | Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing | Produces other communications equipment including fire alarm and intercom systems not covered by telephone, broadcast, or wireless equipment categories |
| 334413 | Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing | Manufactures semiconductors including RF chips, power amplifiers, and baseband processors used as core components in wireless and broadcast transmitter designs |
| 334418 | Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing | Produces printed circuit assemblies including radio frequency boards and antenna feed networks used in wireless communications equipment manufacturing |
| 334511 | Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing | Manufactures search and navigation instruments including radar and sonar systems sharing RF engineering technology with wireless communications equipment |
| 334310 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | Produces audio and video equipment including studio monitors and professional audio systems used alongside broadcast transmission equipment in media facilities |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 23.5% | 153 |
| 2 | Florida | 7.7% | 50 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.8% | 44 |
| 4 | New York | 5.4% | 35 |
| 5 | Maryland | 4.6% | 30 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 4.0% | 26 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 3.8% | 25 |
| 8 | Illinois | 3.7% | 24 |
| 9 | Washington | 2.8% | 18 |
| 10 | Virginia | 2.6% | 17 |
% Of Establishments
0%
23%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
56
Total SBA Loans
$50.0M
Total Loan Volume
$892K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.34%
Average Interest Rate
560
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] assigns NAICS 334220 a size standard of 1,250 employees. While major wireless infrastructure and smartphone firms far exceed this threshold, hundreds of domestic manufacturers producing tactical radios, broadcast equipment, satellite terminals, and two-way radio systems qualify as small businesses. These firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for RF test equipment, production lines, and facility expansion. Additionally, 504/CDC loans[9] provide long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets such as real estate and equipment.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tompkins Community Bank | 16 | $25.6M | $1.6M |
| 2 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $14.0M | $1.8M |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 24 | $10.1M | $422K |
| 4 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 8 | $240K | $30K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses manufacture broadcast and wireless equipment?
Manufacturers span global corporations building cellular infrastructure to small domestic firms producing specialized radio equipment. Major firms manufacture 5G base stations, smartphones, and network switching hardware. Mid-size companies produce two-way radio systems, public safety communications equipment, and broadcast transmitters. Smaller firms focus on military tactical radios, satellite ground terminals, microwave link equipment, or custom antenna systems for specific frequency bands and deployment scenarios.
How is the broadcast and wireless equipment industry structured?
The U.S. Census Bureau[5] reports roughly 583 businesses with 656 locations employing about 55,700 workers. A small number of global firms dominate cellular infrastructure and smartphone production. Hundreds of domestic manufacturers produce defense communications systems, public safety radios, broadcast studio equipment, and satellite terminals. Distribution occurs through telecommunications carrier procurement, government defense contracts, and electronics wholesale dealer networks.
What is the SBA size standard for wireless equipment manufacturers?
The SBA[7] sets the size standard at 1,250 employees for NAICS 334220. Many domestic manufacturers producing tactical radios, broadcast hardware, GPS devices, and satellite communications terminals fall below this limit. Qualifying firms access federal small business procurement preferences and SBA-guaranteed financing for RF engineering laboratories and production equipment.
What NAICS codes are related to wireless equipment manufacturing?
Telephone apparatus manufacturing (334210) covers wireline communications devices. Other communications equipment (334290) includes fire alarms and intercoms. Per the Census Bureau[10], semiconductor manufacturing (334413) produces RF integrated circuits, and search and navigation instrument manufacturing (334511) covers radar systems sharing radio frequency engineering with wireless equipment.
What industries purchase broadcast and wireless communications equipment?
Wireless carriers (517312) purchase base stations and network infrastructure. Television broadcasters (515120) buy transmitters and studio equipment. Aerospace and defense manufacturers (336411) integrate military communications systems. According to the BLS[6], wireless network expansion and defense communications modernization programs drive capital spending on domestically manufactured equipment across commercial and government sectors.
What products and activities does NAICS 334220 include?
This classification covers manufacturing of cellular base stations, smartphones, GPS devices, broadcast transmitters, two-way radios, satellite terminals, antenna systems, microwave link equipment, studio cameras, broadcast signal processors, public safety radios, and military tactical communications platforms. Production activities include RF circuit design, printed circuit board assembly, antenna fabrication, firmware programming, electromagnetic compatibility testing, FCC certification preparation, and field deployment support.
Can broadcast equipment manufacturers access SBA financing?
Manufacturers with fewer than 1,250 employees qualify for SBA loan programs[11] including 7(a) loans up to $5 million and 504 fixed-asset financing. Common applications include purchasing spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, anechoic chambers for RF testing, surface mount assembly lines, and clean room facilities. Working capital lines support semiconductor and RF component procurement for production runs with extended supplier lead times.
Where are broadcast and wireless equipment manufacturers concentrated?
Production clusters in technology corridors including Dallas-Fort Worth, Silicon Valley, San Diego, Research Triangle in North Carolina, and the greater Washington D.C. area according to Census geographic data[12]. Defense communications manufacturers locate near military bases and intelligence agency hubs. Broadcast equipment producers distribute across metropolitan areas where television and radio station customers maintain transmission facilities.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504/CDC loans sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau census.gov
- [11]SBA loan programs sba.gov
- [12]Census geographic data census.gov
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