FCC Releases Telecom Industry Revenue Report -- for 2008

The Federal Communications Commission today released its annual report providing a general overview of revenues in the U.S. telecommunications industry, entitled Telecommunications Industry Revenues.

According to the report, the industry in 2008 reported $297 billion in telecom revenues - a small decrease from 2007's $299 billion. The industry also reported $151 billion of non-telecommunications revenues in 2008. The non-telecommunications category includes Internet and other enhanced services, inside wiring maintenance, billing and collection, customer premises equipment, published directory, dark fiber, cable TV program transmission, telecommunications provided in foreign countries and other revenues not properly classified as U.S. telecommunications or interconnected VoIP.

Other findings include:

• Wireless industry revenues grew 3% during 2008, from $121 billion to $124 billion.
• Total toll service (long distance) revenues dropped during 2008 - from $65 billion to $61 billion.
• Telecommunications revenues for incumbent local exchange carriers decreased to $90 billion in 2008, down from $94 billion in 2007. Incumbent local exchange carriers reported that $86 billion of the $90 billion total was for providing fixed local exchange services.
• Non-incumbent local exchange carriers reported $26 billion of fixed local exchange service revenue for 2008. This represented 11% growth from the 2007 total.