517111 Wired Telecommunications Carriers

Official definition

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating, maintaining, and/or providing access to transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired telecommunications networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination of technologies. Establishments in this industry use the wired telecommunications network facilities that they operate to provide a variety of services, such as wired telephony services, including VoIP services; wired (cable) audio and video programming distribution; and wired broadband Internet services. By exception, establishments providing satellite television distribution services using facilities and infrastructure that they operate are included in this industry.

Examples Census gives

• Broadband Internet service providers, wired (e.g., cable, DSL)
• Cable television distribution services
• Closed-circuit television (CCTV) services
• Direct-to-home satellite system (DTH) services
• Local telephone carriers, wired
• Long-distance telephone carriers, wired
• Multichannel multipoint distribution services (MMDS)
• Satellite television distribution systems
• Telecommunications carriers, wired
• VoIP service providers, using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Operating and maintaining wireless telecommunications networks are classified in U.S. Industry 517112, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite).
• Operating television and radio broadcasting networks, including satellite television and radio networks, that produce media programming for distribution through cable, satellite, streaming, or Internet broadcasting are classified in Industry 516210, Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers.
• Operating radio and television broadcasting stations are classified in Industry Group 5161, Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations.
• Reselling telecommunications services (except satellite telecommunications and agents for wireless telecommunications services), without operating a network are classified in U.S. Industry 517121, Telecommunications Resellers.
• Acting as agents for wireless telecommunications services, including operating as agents for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are classified in U.S. Industry 517122, Agents for Wireless Telecommunications Services.
• Reselling satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications.
• Providing Internet access services via client-supplied telecommunications connections (e.g., dial-up ISPs) are classified in Industry 517810, All Other Telecommunications.
• Providing voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are classified in Industry 517810, All Other Telecommunications.
• Providing expert advice in the field of information technology or in integrating communication and computer systems are classified in Industry 54151, Computer Systems Design and Related Services.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 517111

The Census index assigns these 16 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Cable program distribution operators
• Cable television distribution services
• Cable TV providers (except networks)
• Closed-circuit television (CCTV) services
• Direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services
• Direct-to-home satellite system (DTH) services
• Internet service providers, using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure (e.g., cable, DSL)
• Local telephone carriers, wired
• Long-distance telephone carriers, wired
• Multichannel multipoint distribution services (MMDS)
• Online access service providers, using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure
• Satellite master antenna television service (SMATV)
• Satellite television distribution systems
• Telecommunications carriers, wired
• Television operations, closed-circuit
• VoIP service providers, using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 517111

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 517111, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed 1,500 employees. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 6110, 6130), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 61100Wired telecommunications activitiesUK SIC
• 61300Satellite telecommunications activitiesUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

• 517112Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)