Los Alamos County New Mexico is getting closer to unveiling its finished plan for a county-wide open access fiber network. The effort, should it be approved by county officials in the next few months, should dramatically improve local competition and broadband access quality for the county’s 19,419 residents.

A 2023 Strategic Leadership Plan adopted by the County Council identified that broadband is an “essential service,” stating that a county-owned community broadband network would be a top priority to improve economic vitality of the county.

So last December, the county issued a project request for proposals (RFP), and is currently examining potential partners as well as build and financing options.

County broadband planners tell ILSR they’re hoping to build a county-wide open access fiber network within a budget of $35 million. That network could theoretically pass 10,014 addresses and if open access, could spur meaningful local competition in a predominately rural county where many either don’t have service, or only have access to Comcast cable.

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Los Alamos County Broadband Manager Jerry Smith told ILSR the county is still working its way through the early preparation stages but the project has not been approved by the Los Alamos County Council yet. While planners are currently in the RFP procurement process, the county isn’t yet in position to share more details publicly.

“We are making progress and are now in the final stages of procurement,” Smith said. “We hope to be able to present to our county council a recommended vendor and negotiated contract within the next few months. If we get an approved and funded project, more specific information can be shared at that point.”

Los Alamos County New Mexico is getting closer to unveiling its finished plan for a county-wide open access fiber network. The effort, should it be approved by county officials in the next few months, should dramatically improve local competition and broadband access quality for the county’s 19,419 residents.

A 2023 Strategic Leadership Plan adopted by the County Council identified that broadband is an “essential service,” stating that a county-owned community broadband network would be a top priority to improve economic vitality of the county.

So last December, the county issued a project request for proposals (RFP), and is currently examining potential partners as well as build and financing options.

County broadband planners tell ILSR they’re hoping to build a county-wide open access fiber network within a budget of $35 million. That network could theoretically pass 10,014 addresses and if open access, could spur meaningful local competition in a predominately rural county where many either don’t have service, or only have access to Comcast cable.

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Los Alamos County Broadband Manager Jerry Smith told ILSR the county is still working its way through the early preparation stages but the project has not been approved by the Los Alamos County Council yet. While planners are currently in the RFP procurement process, the county isn’t yet in position to share more details publicly.

“We are making progress and are now in the final stages of procurement,” Smith said. “We hope to be able to present to our county council a recommended vendor and negotiated contract within the next few months. If we get an approved and funded project, more specific information can be shared at that point.”

Los Alamos County New Mexico is getting closer to unveiling its finished plan for a county-wide open access fiber network. The effort, should it be approved by county officials in the next few months, should dramatically improve local competition and broadband access quality for the county’s 19,419 residents.

A 2023 Strategic Leadership Plan adopted by the County Council identified that broadband is an “essential service,” stating that a county-owned community broadband network would be a top priority to improve economic vitality of the county.

So last December, the county issued a project request for proposals (RFP), and is currently examining potential partners as well as build and financing options.

County broadband planners tell ILSR they’re hoping to build a county-wide open access fiber network within a budget of $35 million. That network could theoretically pass 10,014 addresses and if open access, could spur meaningful local competition in a predominately rural county where many either don’t have service, or only have access to Comcast cable.

Image

Los Alamos County Broadband Manager Jerry Smith told ILSR the county is still working its way through the early preparation stages but the project has not been approved by the Los Alamos County Council yet. While planners are currently in the RFP procurement process, the county isn’t yet in position to share more details publicly.

“We are making progress and are now in the final stages of procurement,” Smith said. “We hope to be able to present to our county council a recommended vendor and negotiated contract within the next few months. If we get an approved and funded project, more specific information can be shared at that point.”

Los Alamos County New Mexico is getting closer to unveiling its finished plan for a county-wide open access fiber network. The effort, should it be approved by county officials in the next few months, should dramatically improve local competition and broadband access quality for the county’s 19,419 residents.

A 2023 Strategic Leadership Plan adopted by the County Council identified that broadband is an “essential service,” stating that a county-owned community broadband network would be a top priority to improve economic vitality of the county.

So last December, the county issued a project request for proposals (RFP), and is currently examining potential partners as well as build and financing options.

County broadband planners tell ILSR they’re hoping to build a county-wide open access fiber network within a budget of $35 million. That network could theoretically pass 10,014 addresses and if open access, could spur meaningful local competition in a predominately rural county where many either don’t have service, or only have access to Comcast cable.

Image

Los Alamos County Broadband Manager Jerry Smith told ILSR the county is still working its way through the early preparation stages but the project has not been approved by the Los Alamos County Council yet. While planners are currently in the RFP procurement process, the county isn’t yet in position to share more details publicly.

“We are making progress and are now in the final stages of procurement,” Smith said. “We hope to be able to present to our county council a recommended vendor and negotiated contract within the next few months. If we get an approved and funded project, more specific information can be shared at that point.”

Los Alamos County New Mexico is getting closer to unveiling its finished plan for a county-wide open access fiber network. The effort, should it be approved by county officials in the next few months, should dramatically improve local competition and broadband access quality for the county’s 19,419 residents.

A 2023 Strategic Leadership Plan adopted by the County Council identified that broadband is an “essential service,” stating that a county-owned community broadband network would be a top priority to improve economic vitality of the county.

So last December, the county issued a project request for proposals (RFP), and is currently examining potential partners as well as build and financing options.

County broadband planners tell ILSR they’re hoping to build a county-wide open access fiber network within a budget of $35 million. That network could theoretically pass 10,014 addresses and if open access, could spur meaningful local competition in a predominately rural county where many either don’t have service, or only have access to Comcast cable.

Image

Los Alamos County Broadband Manager Jerry Smith told ILSR the county is still working its way through the early preparation stages but the project has not been approved by the Los Alamos County Council yet. While planners are currently in the RFP procurement process, the county isn’t yet in position to share more details publicly.

“We are making progress and are now in the final stages of procurement,” Smith said. “We hope to be able to present to our county council a recommended vendor and negotiated contract within the next few months. If we get an approved and funded project, more specific information can be shared at that point.”

Wilbraham, Massachusetts officials are taking the first steps toward building a city-owned open access fiber network with an eye on boosting local competition and delivering affordable, next-gen broadband access to long-neglected local residents.

Having issued a request for proposal (RFP) earlier this year with the help of EntryPoint Networks, city officials are currently identifying which company they’ll hire to deploy fiber to the city of 14,749.

They say a formal plan to present to voters – as well as a total projected network cost estimate – is expected by October.

“We have no intention of raising taxes or utilizing tax dollars,” Wilbraham Broadband Advisory Committee Chair Tom Newton tells local news outlet The Reminder.

Newton says Wilbraham is hopeful the new network will be primarily financed through an enterprise fund, similar to how the town handles the cost of water and sewer. Depending on take rates, the city is also hopeful the network will be sustainable primarily through subscriber fees. How that all works out in practice remains to be seen.

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Officials are hopeful to keep the total price per household around $60 a month. A project FAQ states the city wants to deliver symmetrical 20 Mbps (megabit per second), 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and symmetrical 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) service tiers to residents.

Wilbraham, Massachusetts officials are taking the first steps toward building a city-owned open access fiber network with an eye on boosting local competition and delivering affordable, next-gen broadband access to long-neglected local residents.

Having issued a request for proposal (RFP) earlier this year with the help of EntryPoint Networks, city officials are currently identifying which company they’ll hire to deploy fiber to the city of 14,749.

They say a formal plan to present to voters – as well as a total projected network cost estimate – is expected by October.

“We have no intention of raising taxes or utilizing tax dollars,” Wilbraham Broadband Advisory Committee Chair Tom Newton tells local news outlet The Reminder.

Newton says Wilbraham is hopeful the new network will be primarily financed through an enterprise fund, similar to how the town handles the cost of water and sewer. Depending on take rates, the city is also hopeful the network will be sustainable primarily through subscriber fees. How that all works out in practice remains to be seen.

Image

Officials are hopeful to keep the total price per household around $60 a month. A project FAQ states the city wants to deliver symmetrical 20 Mbps (megabit per second), 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and symmetrical 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) service tiers to residents.

Wilbraham, Massachusetts officials are taking the first steps toward building a city-owned open access fiber network with an eye on boosting local competition and delivering affordable, next-gen broadband access to long-neglected local residents.

Having issued a request for proposal (RFP) earlier this year with the help of EntryPoint Networks, city officials are currently identifying which company they’ll hire to deploy fiber to the city of 14,749.

They say a formal plan to present to voters – as well as a total projected network cost estimate – is expected by October.

“We have no intention of raising taxes or utilizing tax dollars,” Wilbraham Broadband Advisory Committee Chair Tom Newton tells local news outlet The Reminder.

Newton says Wilbraham is hopeful the new network will be primarily financed through an enterprise fund, similar to how the town handles the cost of water and sewer. Depending on take rates, the city is also hopeful the network will be sustainable primarily through subscriber fees. How that all works out in practice remains to be seen.

Image

Officials are hopeful to keep the total price per household around $60 a month. A project FAQ states the city wants to deliver symmetrical 20 Mbps (megabit per second), 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and symmetrical 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) service tiers to residents.

Wilbraham, Massachusetts officials are taking the first steps toward building a city-owned open access fiber network with an eye on boosting local competition and delivering affordable, next-gen broadband access to long-neglected local residents.

Having issued a request for proposal (RFP) earlier this year with the help of EntryPoint Networks, city officials are currently identifying which company they’ll hire to deploy fiber to the city of 14,749.

They say a formal plan to present to voters – as well as a total projected network cost estimate – is expected by October.

“We have no intention of raising taxes or utilizing tax dollars,” Wilbraham Broadband Advisory Committee Chair Tom Newton tells local news outlet The Reminder.

Newton says Wilbraham is hopeful the new network will be primarily financed through an enterprise fund, similar to how the town handles the cost of water and sewer. Depending on take rates, the city is also hopeful the network will be sustainable primarily through subscriber fees. How that all works out in practice remains to be seen.

Image

Officials are hopeful to keep the total price per household around $60 a month. A project FAQ states the city wants to deliver symmetrical 20 Mbps (megabit per second), 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and symmetrical 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) service tiers to residents.

Wilbraham, Massachusetts officials are taking the first steps toward building a city-owned open access fiber network with an eye on boosting local competition and delivering affordable, next-gen broadband access to long-neglected local residents.

Having issued a request for proposal (RFP) earlier this year with the help of EntryPoint Networks, city officials are currently identifying which company they’ll hire to deploy fiber to the city of 14,749.

They say a formal plan to present to voters – as well as a total projected network cost estimate – is expected by October.

“We have no intention of raising taxes or utilizing tax dollars,” Wilbraham Broadband Advisory Committee Chair Tom Newton tells local news outlet The Reminder.

Newton says Wilbraham is hopeful the new network will be primarily financed through an enterprise fund, similar to how the town handles the cost of water and sewer. Depending on take rates, the city is also hopeful the network will be sustainable primarily through subscriber fees. How that all works out in practice remains to be seen.

Image

Officials are hopeful to keep the total price per household around $60 a month. A project FAQ states the city wants to deliver symmetrical 20 Mbps (megabit per second), 100 Mbps, 250 Mbps, 500 Mbps, and symmetrical 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) service tiers to residents.