Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction
Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of power lines and towers, power plants, and radio, television, and telecommunications transmitting/receiving towers. The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included in this industry if they are engaged in activities primarily related to power and communication line and related structures construction. All structures (including buildings) that are integral parts of power and communication networks (e.g., transmitting towers, substations, and power plants) are included. Illustrative Examples: Alternative energy (e.g., geothermal, ocean wave, solar, wind) structure construction Power line stringing Cellular phone tower construction Radio transmitting tower construction Co-generation plant construction Satellite receiving station construction Communication tower construction Nuclear power plant construction Telephone line stringing Electric light and power plant (except hydroelectric) construction Transformer station and substation, electric power, construction Electric power transmission line and tower construction Underground cable (e.g., fiber optic, electricity, telephone, cable television) laying
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Construction 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector. Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the owners of construction projects (prime contracts) or (2) contracts with other construction establishments (subcontracts). Establishments primarily engaged in contracts that include responsibility for all aspects of individual construction projects are commonly known as general contractors, but also may be known as design-builders, construction managers, turnkey contractors, or (in cases where two or more establishments jointly secure a general contract) joint-venture contractors. Construction managers that provide oversight and scheduling only (i.e., agency) as well as construction managers that are responsible for the entire project (i.e., at risk) are included as general contractor type establishments. Establishments of the "general contractor type" frequently arrange construction of separate parts of their projects through subcontracts with other construction establishments. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to produce a specific component (e.g., masonry, painting, and electrical work) of a construction project are commonly known as specialty trade contractors. Activities of specialty trade contractors are usually subcontracted from other construction establishments, but especially in remodeling and repair construction, the work may be done directly for the owner of the property. Establishments primarily engaged in activities to construct buildings to be sold on sites that they own are known as for-sale builders, but also may be known as speculative builders or merchant builders. For-sale builders produce buildings in a manner similar to general contractors, but their production processes also include site acquisition and securing of financial backing. For-sale builders are most often associated with the construction of residential buildings. Like general contractors, they may subcontract all or part of the actual construction work on their buildings. There are substantial differences in the types of equipment, work force skills, and other inputs required by establishments in this sector. To highlight these differences and variations in the underlying production functions, this sector is divided into three subsectors. Subsector 236, Construction of Buildings, comprises establishments of the general contractor type and for-sale builders involved in the construction of buildings. Subsector 237, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, comprises establishments involved in the construction of engineering projects. Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors, comprises establishments engaged in specialty trade activities generally needed in the construction of all types of buildings. Force account construction is construction work performed by an enterprise primarily engaged in some business other than construction for its own account, using employees of the enterprise. This activity is not included in the construction sector unless the construction work performed is the primary activity of a separate establishment of the enterprise. The installation and the ongoing repair and maintenance of telecommunications and utility networks is excluded from construction when the establishments performing the work are not independent contractors. Although a growing proportion of this work is subcontracted to independent contractors in the Construction sector, the operating units of telecommunications and utility companies performing this work are included with the telecommunications or utility activities. |
| 237 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 3-digit subsector | The Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is the construction of entire engineering projects (e.g., highways and dams), and specialty trade contractors, whose primary activity is the production of a specific component for such projects. Specialty trade contractors in the Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector generally are performing activities that are specific to heavy and civil engineering construction projects and are not normally performed on buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Specialty trade activities are classified in this subsector if the skills and equipment present are specific to heavy or civil engineering construction projects. For example, specialized equipment is needed to paint lines on highways. This equipment is not normally used in building applications so the activity is classified in this subsector. Traffic signal installation, while specific to highways, uses much of the same skills and equipment that are needed for electrical work in building projects and is therefore classified in Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors. Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage) and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this subsector. Establishments whose primary activity is the subdivision of land into individual building lots usually perform various additional site-improvement activities (e.g., road building and utility line installation) and are included in this subsector. Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the types of structures that they construct. This classification reflects variations in the requirements of the underlying production processes. |
| 2371 | Utility System Construction 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of distribution lines and related buildings and structures for utilities (i.e., water, sewer, petroleum, gas, power, and communication). All structures (including buildings) that are integral parts of utility systems (e.g., storage tanks, pumping stations, power plants, and refineries) are included in this industry group. |
| 23713 | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction 5-digit NAICS industry | See industry description for 237130. |
| 237130 | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of power lines and towers, power plants, and radio, television, and telecommunications transmitting/receiving towers. The work performed may include new work, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs. Specialty trade contractors are included in this industry if they are engaged in activities primarily related to power and communication line and related structures construction. All structures (including buildings) that are integral parts of power and communication networks (e.g., transmitting towers, substations, and power plants) are included. Illustrative Examples: Alternative energy (e.g., geothermal, ocean wave, solar, wind) structure construction Power line stringing Cellular phone tower construction Radio transmitting tower construction Co-generation plant construction Satellite receiving station construction Communication tower construction Nuclear power plant construction Telephone line stringing Electric light and power plant (except hydroelectric) construction Transformer station and substation, electric power, construction Electric power transmission line and tower construction Underground cable (e.g., fiber optic, electricity, telephone, cable television) laying |
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Classification References
- 01Constructing hydroelectric generating facilities--are classified in Industry 237990, Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction;
- 02Constructing broadcast studios and similar nonresidential buildings--are classified in Industry 236220, Commercial and Institutional Building Construction;
- 03Performing electrical work within buildings--are classified in Industry 238210, Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors;
- 04Line slashing or cutting (except maintenance)--are classified in Industry 238910, Site Preparation Contractors;
- 05Installing and maintaining communication transmission lines and towers performed by telecommunications companies--are classified in Subsector 517, Telecommunications;
- 06Installing and maintaining electric power lines and towers performed by electric utility companies--are classified in Industry Group 2211, Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution;
- 07Locating underground utility lines prior to digging--are classified in Industry 561990, All Other Support Services; and
- 08Tree and brush trimming for overhead utility lines--are classified in Industry 561730, Landscaping Services.
Index Items
Alternative energy (e.g., geothermal, ocean wave, solar, wind) structure construction
Cable laying (e.g., fiber optic, electricity, marine, telephone, cable television), including underground
Cellular phone tower construction
Co-generation plant construction
Communication antenna construction
Communication tower construction
Construction management, power and communication transmission line
Electric light and power plant (except hydroelectric) construction
Electric power transmission line and tower construction
Electricity generating plant (except hydroelectric) construction
Fiber optic cable transmission line construction
Microwave relay tower construction
Nuclear power plant construction
Pole line construction
Power line stringing
Power plant (except hydroelectric) construction
Radio transmitting tower construction
Satellite receiving station construction
Solar power structure construction
Substation and switching station, power transmission line, construction
Telephone line construction
Telephone line stringing
Television transmitting tower construction
Thermal power plant construction
Tower, power distribution and communication, construction
Transformer station and substation, electric power, construction
Transmission and distribution line construction
Underground cable (e.g., fiber optic, electricity, telephone, cable television) laying
Utility line (i.e., communication, electric power), construction
Wind power structure construction
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 237130.
National Association of Cable Television Operators
A trade association for the cable television industry focused on advocacy, training, and research.
Federal Highway Administration Subsurface Utility Mappings
A government resource providing data on underground infrastructure including power and communication lines.
Cable-LINK Cable & Communications Construction Directory
An industry directory listing construction and installation professionals specializing in power and communication systems.
