From the late 1800s through the 1950s, telecommunications companies hung, buried, or placed under water extensive networks of cables containing lead sheaths―casing that protects the wires―throughout the United States. By the mid-20th century, companies began installing new cables that use non-lead sheathing, removing some legacy cables while leaving others in place. In July 2023, media reports on lead-sheathed cables identified numerous sites across the country where legacy cables exist and claimed that they may be releasing lead into water and soils at potentially harmful levels. This reporting led some stakeholders, environmental groups, and public officials—including some Members of Congress—to call for action. Subsequently, there were historic drops in U.S. telecom companies’ stock. Within weeks of the July 2023 reports, AT&T, Verizon, the State of New York, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said they would conduct testing at sites named by the media. Initial EPA and state agency tests have not identified public health risks that would require immediate response or remediation. However, following the July media reports, plaintiffs have filed several class action lawsuits against telecom companies challenging their failure to publicly disclose information about lead-sheathed cables and protect utility workers from lead exposure.