Los Alamos County to break ground on Atomic Fiber broadband network in May

Los Alamos County’s next big infrastructure build is headed for the neighborhoods that rely on it most: home internet, business connectivity, remote work and telehealth. Atomic Fiber, the county-owned broadband network, is slated to begin construction in May, with initial service expected in fall 2026 and the full system targeted to reach more than 10,000 homes and businesses by 2030.

The county will mark the start of the work with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 12 at 4 p.m. in the parking area behind the White Rock Visitor Center. County broadband manager Jerry Smith has described the project as a major milestone for Los Alamos County, and officials are framing it as more than a ceremonial launch. They are betting that a publicly owned fiber network can improve internet access, reliability and affordability in both Los Alamos and White Rock, while giving households and local employers more choice.

The buildout is scheduled in eight phases over about three years, with service coming online as each phase is completed. That phased rollout will be one of the clearest benchmarks for county leaders: whether residents in the first areas can actually connect in fall 2026, then whether the network keeps moving neighborhood by neighborhood until full service is available.

Atomic Fiber is designed as an open-access fiber-to-the-premise network, which means multiple internet service providers can offer service over the same county-owned infrastructure. The county has already announced four retail providers for the system: XMission, Anthem Broadband, Intellipop and LANet. County materials say the network will function as public infrastructure, like a road or sewer line, rather than a private utility controlled by a single company.

Residents should also expect disruption as the system is built. Crews may attach fiber to existing utility poles in some areas, while other streets will see underground conduit installed through microtrenching or directional boring. The county says households should receive about a week’s notice before contractors arrive in their area, and restoration crews will return after the fiber is installed to address any damage or disruption.

The project has been years in the making. A 2013 broadband study estimated a $47.2 million build for about 8,000 passings, while the county later created and hired a broadband manager in late 2021. County leaders approved design-build and operations agreements in November 2024, followed by field assessments and utility data collection across White Rock and the townsite during 2025. In February 2026, Atomic Fiber won a public naming survey by more than two-thirds of the vote. Now, with a $35 million price tag and construction completion targeted for 2029, the county is turning a long-planned policy goal into a visible public works project that will reach households street by street.