NAICS 517111 Quarterly Industry Report
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 517111Sector: Information (51)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 517111 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[8], and the Small Business Administration[9]. Our research team analyzes subscriber counts, average revenue per user, and network capital expenditure ratios to build valuation benchmarks for wired telecom operations. This report on NAICS 517111 is updated quarterly to reflect broadband deployment trends and regulatory developments.
Industry Definition & Overview
Wired Telecommunications Carriers (NAICS 517111) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in operating, maintaining, and providing access to transmission facilities and infrastructure for voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired telecommunications networks. These carriers own or lease fiber optic, coaxial cable, copper wire, and hybrid fiber-coaxial networks to deliver services including local and long-distance telephony, broadband internet access, cable television distribution, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications.
The industry generates roughly $195 billion in annual revenue, making it the largest segment within the telecommunications sector. Broadband internet and cable television subscriptions have replaced traditional voice telephony as the primary revenue drivers, reflecting a decades-long shift in consumer and business demand. Fiber optic network buildouts continue across metropolitan and suburban markets as carriers race to deliver gigabit-speed broadband that supports streaming, remote work, and connected device ecosystems.
The Federal Communications Commission[4] regulates carrier operations, spectrum use, interconnection agreements, and broadband deployment. Industry employment spans network engineers, field technicians, customer service representatives, and sales teams. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] tracks telecommunications workforce data, while the Census Bureau[6] measures industry revenue. Geographic coverage is nationwide, though rural areas rely more heavily on incumbent carriers and cooperatives receiving federal broadband subsidies from the Universal Service Fund.
What's Included in This Industry
- Local and long-distance wired telephone services
- Broadband internet access over fiber, cable, and DSL
- Cable television distribution and programming delivery
- VoIP and unified communications services
- Enterprise data networking and dedicated circuit provisioning
- Fiber optic network construction and maintenance
- Interconnection and wholesale network access
- Managed network services for business customers
- Telephone directory and calling feature services
- Municipal broadband and cooperative utility telecom operations
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Information | 51 |
| Subsector | Telecommunications | 517 |
| Industry Group | Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) | 5171 |
| NAICS Industry | Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | 51711 |
| National Industry | Wired Telecommunications Carriers | 517111 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 517112 | Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | Wireless carriers provide competing mobile voice and data services that have eroded wired telephony subscriber counts over the past two decades |
| 517121 | Telecommunications Resellers | Telecommunications resellers purchase wholesale network access from wired carriers and resell voice and data services under their own brands |
| 518210 | Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | Data processing and hosting services operate on top of the broadband infrastructure that wired carriers build and maintain for enterprise clients |
| 517410 | Satellite Telecommunications | Satellite telecommunications providers offer broadband and video alternatives in rural areas where wired infrastructure deployment is uneconomical |
| 516210 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | Media streaming platforms depend on wired broadband networks for content delivery, linking carrier infrastructure investment to streaming demand |
SBA Lending Summary
160
Total SBA Loans
$122.9M
Total Loan Volume
$768K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.45%
Average Interest Rate
1,824
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA size standard[10] for NAICS 517111 is 1,500 employees, using a headcount threshold that classifies carriers with fewer workers as small businesses for federal programs. Carriers can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for network equipment, vehicle fleets, and working capital, while SBA 504 loans[12] support central office and data center facility acquisition. Rural cooperatives and regional carriers typically qualify as small businesses.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 32 | $72.4M | $2.3M |
| 2 | Truist Bank | 16 | $21.3M | $1.3M |
| 3 | Northeast Bank | 48 | $12.5M | $261K |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank | 16 | $7.8M | $489K |
| 5 | KeyBank National Association | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 517111?
NAICS 517111 covers establishments that operate wired telecommunications networks for voice, data, and video transmission. This includes incumbent local exchange carriers, cable companies offering broadband and telephone service, fiber optic internet providers, VoIP carriers, and rural telephone cooperatives.
How is NAICS 517111 different from 517112?
NAICS 517111 covers carriers delivering services through wired infrastructure (fiber, cable, copper), while 517112 covers carriers using wireless spectrum licenses for cellular and mobile broadband. Wired carriers own physical network plant; wireless carriers transmit over licensed radio frequencies, per Census Bureau classifications[13].
What is the SBA size standard for wired telecom carriers?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 517111 at 1,500 employees. Carriers with fewer workers qualify as small businesses for federal contracting and lending, per the SBA size standards table[10].
What NAICS codes are related to wired telecom?
Related codes include 517112 (wireless carriers), 517121 (telecom resellers), 518210 (data hosting), 517410 (satellite telecom), and 238210 (electrical contractors). Each connects through network infrastructure, competition, or service delivery relationships.
What industries are closely related to wired carriers?
Closely related industries include wireless telecom (517112), cloud hosting (518210), streaming services (516210), electrical contractors (238210), and equipment manufacturers (334210). Each depends on or supports wired network infrastructure.
What activities are included in wired telecom?
Activities include local and long-distance telephony, broadband internet delivery, cable TV distribution, VoIP services, enterprise networking, fiber construction, and wholesale access provisioning. The FCC[4] regulates carrier operations and broadband deployment.
Can wired telecom carriers get SBA loans?
Where are wired telecom carriers concentrated?
Major carriers operate nationwide, but smaller independent carriers and cooperatives concentrate in rural markets across the Midwest, Plains states, and Appalachia where they serve as the primary broadband providers. Urban markets support competitive overbuilders and fiber-focused ISPs, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[14].
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. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]Federal Communications Commission fcc.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [9]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [10]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [13]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [14]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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