51 Information

517311 Wired Telecommunications Carriers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating 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.

Illustrative Examples:

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

Producing and distributing a channel of television programming for cable or satellite television systems are classified in Industry 515210, Cable and Other Subscription Programming;

Operating and maintaining wireless telecommunications networks are classified in U.S. Industry 517312, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite);

Producing and distributing radio programs for cable or satellite radio systems are classified in U.S. Industry 515111, Radio Networks;

Reselling telecommunications services (except satellite telecommunications), without operating a network are classified in U.S. Industry 517911, Telecommunications Resellers;

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 U.S. Industry 517919, All Other Telecommunications;

Providing voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are classified in U.S. Industry 517919, All Other Telecommunications;

Providing limited Internet connectivity at locations known as Internet cafes, in combination with other services such as facsimile services, training, rental of on-site personal computers, game rooms, or food services are classified in U.S. Industry 561439, Other Business Service Centers (including Copy Shops), or Subsector 722, Food Services and Drinking Places, depending on the primary activity.

Operating coin-operated pay telephones are classified in Industry 812990, All Other Personal Services.

517312 Wireless Telecommunications Carriers

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating and maintaining switching and transmission facilities to provide communications via the airwaves. Establishments in this industry have spectrum licenses and provide services using that spectrum, such as cellular phone services, paging services, wireless Internet access, and wireless video services.

Illustrative Examples:

Cellular telephone services
Paging services, except satellite
Wireless Internet service providers, except satellite
Wireless telephone communications carriers, except satellite

Operating and maintaining wired telecommunications networks are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;

Operating and maintaining satellite networks are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications;

Providing satellite television distribution services are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers.

Operating as mobile virtual network operations (MVNO) are classified in U.S. Industry 517911, Telecommunications Resellers.

517410 Satellite Telecommunications

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing telecommunications services to other establishments in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries by forwarding and receiving communications signals via a system of satellites or reselling satellite telecommunications.

Establishments primarily engaged in providing direct-to-home satellite television services to individual households or consumers are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers.

517911 Telecommunications Resellers

This industry comprises establishments engaged in purchasing access and network capacity from owners and operators of telecommunications networks and reselling wired and wireless telecommunications services (except satellite) to businesses and households. Establishments in this industry resell telecommunications; they do not operate transmission facilities and infrastructure. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are included in this industry.

Operating and maintaining wired telecommunications networks are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;

Operating and maintaining wireless telecommunications networks are classified in U.S. Industry 517312, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite).

Reselling satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications.

517919 All Other Telecommunications

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing specialized telecommunications services, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and radar station operation. This industry also includes establishments primarily engaged in providing satellite terminal stations and associated facilities connected with one or more terrestrial systems and capable of transmitting telecommunications to, and receiving telecommunications from, satellite systems. Establishments providing Internet services or Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services via client-supplied telecommunications connections are also included in this industry.

Illustrative Examples:

Dial-up Internet service providers
VoIP service providers, using client-supplied telecommunications connections
Internet service providers using client-supplied telecommunications connections (e.g., dial-up ISPs)
Satellite tracking stations

Providing wired broadband Internet services or wired VoIP services via own operated telecommunications infrastructure are classified in U.S. Industry 517311, Wired Telecommunications Carriers;

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.

Providing satellite telecommunications services are classified in Industry 517410, Satellite Telecommunications.