Analysis
NAICS 51711 is the 2022 NAICS industry for wired and wireless telecommunications carriers (except satellite), part of 5171 (Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite)). Census lists 29 example activities under it in the official index.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 51621, 5161, 51712 and 51741. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Across its national industries Census lists 29 index entries; typical ones are cable program distribution operators and beeper (i.e., radio pager) communication carriers.
For example, 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 51621 (Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers) instead.
County Business Patterns publishes no national count for it, either because the code is out of the survey's scope or because the figures are suppressed to protect individual businesses.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating, maintaining, and/or providing access to switching and transmission facilities and infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired and wireless telecommunications networks (except satellite). Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology or a combination of technologies. By exception, establishments providing satellite television distribution services using facilities and infrastructure that they operate are included in this industry.
Illustrative Examples:
Broadband Internet service providers, wired (e.g., cable, DSL) Cable television distribution services Cellular telephone service carriers Direct-to-home satellite system (DTH) services Satellite television distribution systems Telecommunications carriers, wired and wireless VoIP service providers, using own operated wired telecommunications infrastructure Wireless Internet service providers, except satellite Wireless telecommunications carriers, except satellite Wireless telephone communications carriers, except satellite
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| 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 | 51621 Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers |
| Operating radio and television broadcasting stations | 5161 Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations |
| Reselling telecommunications services (except satellite telecommunications), without operating a network, and/or acting as agents for wireless telecommunications services, including operating as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) | 51712 Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services |
| Operating and maintaining satellite network infrastructure that they own and/or lease and/or reselling satellite telecommunications services | 51741 Satellite Telecommunications |
| Providing Internet access services via client-supplied telecommunications connections (e.g., dial-up ISPs) | 51781 All Other Telecommunications |
| Providing voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections | 51781 All Other Telecommunications |
| Providing expert advice in the field of information technology or in integrating communication and computer systems | 54151 Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
Index entries (29)
- Cable program distribution operators
- Beeper (i.e., radio pager) communication carriers