BY AKKANA PECK AND ANDY FRASER

In January of this year, after a presentation by Los Alamos Community Broadband Network manager Jerry Smith, County Council passed a motion declaring “…that high-quality reliable telecommunication including broadband is an essential service”.

We haven’t seen any newspaper articles on the topic since then, but on August 11 the County issued a request for proposals to “Design, Build, and Operate a Community Broadband Network” (https://ladailypost.com/legal/rfp24-11/).

Broadband advocates Andrew Fraser, Akkana Peck and David North met this week with Deputy County Manager Anne Laurent to learn more.

Ms. Laurent explained that the RFP closed last week and that the county is reviewing first phase proposals. The contents of the proposals are confidential and cannot be released until Council is presented a contract for consideration of award.  However, both Laurent and Smith are working toward presenting to Council as early as possible in 2024.

Once that presentation is scheduled, there will be an opportunity for residents to make their opinions known about moving the Community Broadband Network project forward.