Capital expenditures by U.S. broadband providers totaled $94.7 billion in 2023, according to the 2023 USTelecom Capital Expenditure Report. USTelecom's report was released on October 18.
According to USTelecom, the $94.7 billion figure is the second highest annual industry capex in 22 years. USTelecom's 2023 report indicates that U.S. broadband providers have invested over $2.2 trillion in network infrastructure since 1996. In reports for prior years, USTelecom has noted that its capex estimates likely are conservative because they have not included investment by small U.S. broadband providers or U.S. satellite broadband providers.
Continuing strong investment is a clear indicator of a competitive broadband market environment. On July 6 of this year, the Free State Foundation offered many other data points about the market's vibrancy in public comments it submitted in the FCC's 2024 Communications Marketplace Report proceeding. Additionally, on October 7, FSF submitted public comments to the FCC in the agency’s proceeding for the upcoming Eighteenth Section 706 Report. Those comments include data points supporting the conclusion that broadband service is being reasonably and timely deployed to all Americans. Sustaining that progress in deployment will depend on private market investment remaining high and undeterred by regulatory barriers.
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