Los Alamos County, NM voting next week on community-owned fiber network

​The Los Alamos County Council is set to vote on two pivotal agreements for the Community Broadband Network (CBN) during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. The meeting, held in-person and via Zoom, marks a significant step in a two-year initiative led by Broadband Manager Jerry Smith to establish broadband as an essential service, providing reliable, high-speed internet at competitive prices countywide.

The first agreement, with Bonfire Fiber LLC, is a Broadband Network Design/Build Agreement, outlines plans to construct a County-owned, open-access fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network. This fiber network aims to deliver scalable, high-speed internet directly to homes and businesses. The second agreement, the Broadband Operations Agreement, details how the network will be managed by an external vendor. This vendor will not offer internet services directly but will oversee the network and facilitate partnerships with multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs), giving subscribers flexibility in choosing their provider. The operations agreement is also with Bonfire Fiber.

The project has a budget cap of $35 million and aligns with the Council’s strategic priorities. During the meeting, officials will present the project’s timeline, subscriber cost estimates, and key milestones. If approved, the agreements will enhance broadband infrastructure, fostering better connectivity for the community.

Read more about the project on the Los Alamos Daily Post.

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