Electric upgrades associated with REDI‐Net, the Regional Economic Development Initiative’s Broadband “Middle Mile” network, may cause brief power interruptions as 13 power poles are replaced in White Rock during May.

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will oversee the pole replacement project in early May, along a pole corridor extending from Sherwood Boulevard to Overlook Park, and from N.M. 4 to Piñon Elementary School.

The work will be conducted by electrical contractor SECO, Inc.

The REDINet pole replacements occurring in White Rock next month will require brief power interruptions affecting four to 10 customers at a time.

The new electric poles will be stable while carrying the additional loads of the fiber optic line.

DPU will provide 48‐hour notification to affected customers in advance of any planned outages.

“Power interruptions will be critical for safely enabling the connection of power and fiber‐optic lines to the newly installed poles,” said Deputy Utility Manager for Electric Distribution Rafael De La Torre. “The work supports REDI‐Net, the regional broadband project, which will provide ‘middle mile’ broadband service to approximately 30 anchor institutions such as schools, libraries, hospitals, and other public sites.”

More information about the REDI‐Net Broadband project can be found at: http://www.losalamosnm.us/ecodev/econews/Pages/REDINet2012Update.aspx and at: www.nmredi.org.

The DPU supports infrastructure that enables diversified choices for our community such as the REDI Net project.

Los Alamos County’s Information Technology Department provides REDI‐Net project management liaison services in connection with the Los Alamos portion of the broadband middle‐mile project.

The REDI‐Net middle mile broadband project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and regional monies including a 30 percent match from Los Alamos County’s “Progress through Partnering” program.

The Joint Powers Agreement governing the project and signed by the nine participating regional entities was approved by the Los Alamos County Council on Sept. 14, 2010.

As part of the agreement, Los Alamos County receives high‐speed fiber use in exchange for maintenance of the infrastructure within its jurisdictional boundaries.