The wireless industry comprises a much larger part of the U.S. economy than some policymakers may realize, according to the author of a new report on the impact of cellular technology.
The industry accounts for nearly 4 million direct and indirect jobs, is larger than industries such as publishing and agriculture, and contributed $146.2 billion to U.S. gross domestic product during the 12 months before June of last year, the report states.
Calling the impact of the industry “broad and deep,” report author and Recon Analytics founder Roger Entner said the numbers show the benefit of limited regulations.
“The implications are that the country has been served very well by a low-touch regulatory environment,” he said.
The study was commissioned by CTIA. Entner said his research was conducted independently using government figures to extrapolate industry-specific data.
The study could help officials in Washington better understand the magnitude of the wireless industry, Entner said.
“I don’t think they know the full impact,” he said. Much of the economic data produced by the government does not separate information about the wireless industry from other telecommunications sectors, making its effect on jobs and GDP harder to determine.