Verizon has launched a $25,000 reward program as it steps up efforts to tackle vandalism targeting telecommunications infrastructure across the United States.
The company announced the initiative after a series of incidents in Southern California in which multiple fiber cables were cut, disrupting wireless and wireline services for customers in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Verizon said the reward will be available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for intentionally damaging its equipment.
The move comes amid growing concern within the telecommunications industry over theft and vandalism involving network infrastructure, particularly fiber and copper cabling.
According to industry data cited by Verizon, California recorded 6,297 network-related attacks in 2025, with Los Angeles accounting for 1,131 incidents. The company said California also experienced the largest financial impact from such incidents, with estimated losses of $252.6 million.
California and Texas together accounted for more than half of reported incidents nationally, according to the data.
Verizon said recent attacks have affected thousands of customers and warned that damage to telecommunications infrastructure can have wider consequences beyond temporary loss of internet or phone services.
Businesses, hospitals, emergency services and households increasingly rely on continuous connectivity, meaning deliberate damage to network infrastructure can disrupt services that extend well beyond consumer communications.
Vandana Venkatesh, Verizon’s chief legal officer, said the company was actively investigating recent incidents and working alongside law enforcement.
“These are criminal acts, affecting people’s safety and are putting lives at risk,” Venkatesh said.
Verizon is also working with law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible for attacks against its network.
Joe Russo, executive vice president and president of Global Networks and Technology at Verizon, said protecting network infrastructure had become an important issue for communities across the country.
“Across the country, people rely on us for critical connectivity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Russo said.
The company said its security and network teams were assisting law enforcement investigations into the incidents.
Infrastructure Vandalism Becomes a Growing Business Risk
The financial impact of telecommunications vandalism extends beyond the cost of replacing damaged cables.
Network outages can interrupt payment systems, customer communications, remote working, logistics and other business operations that depend on reliable connectivity.
Telecommunications companies must also absorb the cost of emergency engineering work, replacement equipment and security measures designed to reduce the likelihood of future attacks.
For major network operators such as Verizon, repeated incidents can therefore create both operational and financial challenges.
The company generated revenue of $138.2 billion in 2025 and operates one of the largest telecommunications networks in the United States, providing services to consumers, businesses and major corporate customers.
Verizon said the latest reward program forms part of its wider effort to protect critical communications infrastructure and deter future attacks.
Anyone witnessing vandalism involving Verizon infrastructure has been advised by the company to contact emergency services before reporting the incident to Verizon’s security department.
The latest incidents highlight the growing dependence of businesses and communities on physical telecommunications infrastructure at a time when digital connectivity has become essential to everyday economic activity.
