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County deputy utility manager explains recent fiber outages, PRC jurisdiction and plans with Lumen
Summary
James Allred, deputy utility manager for engineering, described two recent communications outages caused by excavation, explained New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) processes and said Lumen agreed to provide on‑site line‑locating support.
James Allred, Deputy Utility Manager for Engineering with Los Alamos County, used the public‑comment portion of the March 18 council work session to explain two recent communications outages that affected local businesses and residents.
Allred said county contractors were excavating near a fiber optic line and that questions about fault and compensation typically fall under New Mexico excavation law and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) pipeline safety bureau's jurisdiction. He said utility owners must file reports with the PRC when a line is hit; the PRC then investigates and the parties present their cases for a determination.
Allred said the county does not have an internal compensation mechanism for these events and that affected businesses should contact their provider (for example, Lumen) or the contractor. He said the PRC was on site and that sometimes parties do not immediately acknowledge responsibility.
To reduce risk going forward, Allred said the county requested that Lumen provide an on‑site monitor/contract line‑locator for the ongoing excavation project; Lumen agreed and assigned a subcontractor to attend daily construction tailgate meetings, be part of the contractor team and provide locating services. He noted that when contractors "call it in" for location, utilities have two days to mark lines and markings are valid for 10 days, and that temporary markings may disappear quickly in roadside work.
Allred said county crews had dug test pits where questions existed and that the county will continue diligence and coordination with Lumen and the contractor. He offered to be available afterward for members of the public to ask questions and staff proposed adding the topic to a future managerreport so it could be placed on a meeting agenda for additional public discussion.
Why it matters: The discussion clarifies the procedural path for determining responsibility and emphasizes coordination between the county, contractors and private communication providers to reduce future outages.
Sources: Public comment by James Allred at Los Alamos County Council work session, March 18, 2025.
