The nation’s biggest telecom companies are joining forces to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Eight major US operators have formed the Communications Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (C2 ISAC), a non-profit organization designed to counter AI-accelerated attacks on America’s communications backbone.
The coalition includes AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, Lumen Technologies and Zayo. These companies will make up the initial board of directors, with each contributing their chief information security officer. AT&T CISO Rich Baich will chair the group.
This move comes at a critical time for the telecom industry. Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, with artificial intelligence making threats faster and harder to predict. The operators recognize that no single company can see every threat or handle every risk alone. The scale and complexity of modern cyber warfare demands a coordinated response.
Valerie Moon will lead the organization as executive director. She brings deep experience from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the FBI, and other key cyber organizations. Her background in both private sector cybersecurity and homeland security gives her unique insight into the challenges facing critical infrastructure.
The C2 ISAC aims to pool real-time intelligence, technical expertise, and coordinated defense strategies across the sector. By sharing information quickly, the companies hope to spot threats earlier and respond faster when attacks occur. This collaborative approach could make the entire communications sector more resilient against sophisticated adversaries.
“Cybersecurity threats are more sophisticated and persistent than ever,” Baich said. “With Valerie Moon serving as executive director, the C2 ISAC is well positioned to expand trusted collaboration across the communications sector and help members address emerging risks.”
The timing reflects growing concerns about threats to critical infrastructure. Nation-state actors and criminal groups are increasingly targeting telecommunications networks, which are essential for everything from emergency services to economic activity. Recent attacks on other sectors have shown how vulnerable interconnected systems can be.
The new coalition will begin formal operations in June 2026. Moon will handle day-to-day operations while the board of CISOs provides strategic direction. The structure ensures both operational expertise and high-level industry coordination.
Information sharing organizations like this have proven effective in other sectors. The financial industry has used similar models to combat fraud and cyberattacks for years. Now the telecom sector is adopting this approach as threats become more complex and the stakes continue to rise.