By Iley Joe, Broadband and Digital Access Policy Research Fellow at Gen-Z Emerging Technology Action (ZETA)
Approximately 96% of Americans have access to the internet, with nearly four in five adults relying on home broadband to connect. In an increasingly digital age, it has become critical for Americans to access the internet as the number of people working and attending school from home, engaging in e-commerce, and connecting with friends and family is growing by the day. However, in communities across the United States, especially in rural and low-income areas, the demand for broadband outpaces the supply. Service is often unreliable due to outdated infrastructure, and in a growing number of cases, the theft and destruction of copper wire.
For millions of users across the country, the destruction of broadband infrastructure can result in the loss of connection for days or weeks at a time. For many who rely on broadband networks for school, work, healthcare, and even public safety, these outages are more than mere inconveniences; they can mean the difference between life and death.
Copper: The Backbone Few Talk About
Recent policy developments regarding broadband infrastructure development have placed emphasis on alternative methods of connectivity, such as through low-orbiting satellites and fiber-optic cables. While industry has begun to pivot in these new directions, copper remains one of the most dominant technologies Americans connect to the internet with, especially in areas that have not yet been reached with fiber optic or satellite, and its vulnerability is growing.
Just this year, in July, over $20,000 in copper wiring was stolen along U.S. 61 North. For those who solely rely on copper to connect, these cases of theft are incredibly dangerous, especially as rebuilding the networks can take a substantial amount of time. In this case of theft, residents and travellers were left with unreliable service and were unable to connect to emergency services. These incidents are not rare and have become part of a broader pattern of broadband network theft and destruction.
Legislators have begun focusing on bills to mitigate these attacks on America’s network infrastructure. Recently, a bipartisan effort led by Congressman Marc Veasey of Texas and Congresswoman Laurel Lee is attempting to cut down on these dangerous attacks and protect consumers. Their proposed legislation, the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025, would increase penalties for the theft and sabotage of broadband infrastructure and safeguard our communications systems. It is a measure aimed squarely at preserving access for the communities most at risk of losing it.
A Future in Fiber, Without Abandoning Copper
While many Americans still count on older copper wire networks to connect, it is not the most dependable point of connection, and the number of users relying on copper to connect is dwindling. However, industry and the government must strike a balance between protecting the existing infrastructure and introducing new technologies.
Companies such as AT&T are taking the lead. Set to acquire Lumen’s Mass Markets fiber in 2026, AT&T is expanding its fiber network reach and will offer competitive connectivity services to millions of customers. This move will provide faster and more reliable broadband and is critical in helping close the digital divide. But this acquisition, and similar moves to expand alternative broadband networks, are in part stifled by the continued use and reliance on copper wire networks.
Recent developments with BEAD applications, the US Supreme Court’s affirmation of the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund, and the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill, which renews the Federal Communications Commission’s auction authority, will be key in maintaining the balance of building out new networks while maintaining older ones. These developments offer unique opportunities for place-based infrastructure developments to address geographical network needs.
A Call from a Connected Generation
Generation Z has used and relied on the internet for most of their lives, and for them, the stakes are high. Today, 96% of Americans use the internet in some way–to gain access to healthcare services, attend online classes, connect with friends and family, and much more, and protecting these networks is of utmost importance.
Congress has the opportunity to act decisively, following the lead of Representatives Lee and Veasey, to safeguard the broadband networks, especially copper wire lines, that millions of users still depend on, while working to advance the fiber future that will define the decades ahead.
The broadband of the future is fiber optic, but many of the networks we rely on today are copper. We must work to invest in and protect both.
Sources:
Pew Research Center. “Internet/Broadband Fact Sheet.” November 13, 2024.
Pew Research Center. “Memo: What Makes a Community ‘Unserved’ or ‘Underserved’ by Broadband?” May 3, 2023.
U.S. Representative Laurel Lee. “Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Bill to Protect American Broadband Consumers.” Press Release, April 10, 2025.
Tatum Todd. “Copper-Wire Thieves Are Knocking Out Streetlights Across Portland, Leaving Highways – and Police – in the Dark.” The Oregonian, July 3, 2025.
Sabrina Simms Robertson. “Theft of $20K Worth of Fiber, Copper Lines Causes AT&T Internet, Phone Outage Along U.S. 61 North.” The Natchez Democrat, July 8, 2025.
AT&T. “AT&T to Acquire Lumen’s Mass Markets Fiber Business.” AT&T Corporate Newsroom, July 22, 2025.
Congressional Research Service. “FCC v. Consumers’ Research: High Court Rejects Challenge to Universal Service Fund.” CRS Legal Sidebar No. LSB11301, July 18, 2025.
