RLM Underground
RLM Underground is a family-owned, Kansas City-based telecom infrastructure construction firm that builds underground and aerial fiber networks, small cell systems, and broadband backbones for major U.S. carriers, utilities, and government clients across 18 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RLM Underground does
RLM Underground is a privately held, family-owned telecommunications infrastructure construction company founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, with additional regional offices in Springfield, Kentucky and Morris, Illinois. The company designs and builds outside-plant telecom networks, offering four integrated service lines: underground construction (fiber optic installation, directional drilling, trenching, plowing), aerial construction (fiber deployment on existing utility poles), telecom services (OSP/ISP network design and build, fiber conduit for 5G), and engineering (aerial make-ready, pole load analysis, route verification, permitting, traffic control, small cell engineering). Project types span FTTH network installations, neighborhood fiber builds, long-haul broadband backbones, fiber conduit for 5G densification, and dedicated private networks for entities such as school districts.
The company's go-to-market is sales-led and B2B, with direct enterprise engagement with major U.S. telecom carriers (AT&T, Google Fiber, CenturyLink, Windstream, MetroNet, Consolidated Communications), engineering and construction primes (Black & Veatch), and government and education buyers. Revenue is generated through project-based, individually quoted contracts with multi-year cadence, where pricing depends on scope, geography, terrain, and timeline; no standard public pricing exists. RLM has completed 200+ projects across 18 states, installed more than 5 million linear feet of fiber, and reports an installation throughput of 150,000+ feet per week, with a 200% increase in full-time headcount. The company is led by founder and CEO Lee Mudd, with a regional executive bench including VPs of Construction for the Great Lakes and Southern regions, a VP of Operations, VP of Business Development, and CFO David Parker.
The business model is a labor- and capital-intensive specialty construction services model, with competitive positioning resting on central-U.S. mobilization reach, an in-house equipment fleet, multi-service bundling, and demonstrated performance for Tier-1 carrier clients. Award recognition in 2024 includes the Inc. Regionals list, Kansas Department of Commerce recognition, and the Stevie American Business Award for Entrepreneur of the Year in Telecommunications. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.
RLM Underground firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RLM Underground
- Legal name
- RLM Underground LLC
- Website
- https://rlmus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- RLM Underground is a family-owned, Kansas City-based telecom infrastructure construction firm that builds underground and aerial fiber networks, small cell systems, and broadband backbones for major U.S. carriers, utilities, and government clients across 18 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RLM Underground industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Telecommunications Infrastructure Construction
- NAICS
- Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Underground Duct, Conduit & Manhole/Vault Construction (Telecom Civils) (IMAFAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying) (EUADADAI)
Keywords
Where RLM Underground is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
RLM Underground business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Infrastructure Construction Services: Project-based revenue from telecommunications infrastructure construction including underground fiber installation, aerial construction, and small cell deployment. Revenue generated through one-time project fees for construction services to telecom carriers, utilities, and government entities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based construction services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
RLM Underground product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RLM Underground is a telecommunications infrastructure construction company that builds fiber optic networks for telecom carriers, utilities, and government entities. Core services include underground construction (fiber installation, drilling, trenching, plowing), aerial construction, telecom end-to-end OSP/ISP solutions, small cell engineering for 5G, and engineering services such as pole load analysis and route verification. The company operates across 18 U.S. states from its Kansas City headquarters, executing project-based contracts for fiber-to-the-home, broadband backbone, and small cell deployments.
Product overview
RLM Underground is a telecommunications infrastructure construction company offering a portfolio of construction and engineering services. The company's core offerings include Underground Construction (fiber optic installation, drilling, trenching, plowing), Aerial Construction, Telecom Services (OSP/ISP solutions and small cell deployment), Small Cell Engineering, and Engineering Services (aerial make-ready, pole load analysis, route verification, permitting). The company specializes in project types including FTTH Network Installation, Neighborhood Fiber Network Projects, High-Speed Broadband Builds, Fiber Conduit Builds, and School District WAN projects. These services collectively enable the deployment of fiber-optic networks for telecom carriers, utilities, and government entities across 18 states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Underground Construction Fiber optic installation, drilling, trenching and plowing services for telecom infrastructure deployment across urban and rural communities. Designed for telecom carriers, utilities, and government entities deploying fiber networks.
- Aerial Construction
- Telecom Services
- Engineering Services
- Small Cell Engineering
Quantifiable outcome
- 5M+ linear feet of fiber installed nationwide
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use RLM Underground
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RLM Underground technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
RLM Underground partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA)minorPartnership with industry association for professional development and networking in the utility construction sector.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas CityminorCommunity partnership supporting youth mentorship programs in the Kansas City region where the company is headquartered.
- Kansas City ChiefsminorSports team partnership supporting local community initiatives and brand visibility in the Kansas City market.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RLM Underground competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MasTec: Diversified infrastructure construction firm with a sizable Communications segment delivering fiber, wireless and 5G civil services to the same carriers as RLM, competing directly on long-haul and metro fiber build-outs.
- Henkels & McCoy: Privately held engineering and construction firm with utility and communications divisions that perform underground and aerial telecom infrastructure work for carriers and utilities nationwide.
- M.C. Dean: Specialty contractor delivering telecom outside-plant construction, fiber and wireless infrastructure for carriers and government customers — overlapping significantly with RLM's underground, aerial and engineering offerings.
- Ervin Cable Construction: Regional specialty contractor performing aerial and underground fiber construction for carriers and utilities, comparable in scale and service mix to RLM's mid-market telecom civil work.
- Dycom Industries: Largest U.S. specialty contractor focused on telecom network construction (underground/aerial fiber, site acquisition, engineering), serving AT&T, Lumen, Verizon and other carriers on the same types of FTTH, backhaul and small cell projects as RLM.
- UtiliQuest: Subsidiary of Quanta Services providing utility locating, make-ready engineering and OSP design services — overlapping with RLM's aerial make-ready, pole load analysis and permitting offerings.
- Primoris Services: Infrastructure construction provider with utility and communications offerings; competes for FTTH, fiber backbone and broadband deployment work similar to RLM's core underground and aerial construction scope.
Broad incumbents
- Quanta Services: Largest publicly traded utility infrastructure contractor; its communications business builds fiber backbone, FTTH and wireless small cell networks for carriers and is a direct competitor on larger telecom civil scopes.
- Black & Veatch: Global EPC firm with a critical infrastructure communications practice; an existing RLM customer, also a competitor on engineering-led telecom civil and fiber programs.
- Pike Electric: Large infrastructure services provider operating across electric T&D and communications, with capabilities in aerial fiber make-ready and telecommunications construction comparable to RLM's aerial segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RLM Underground social profiles
Digital presenceRLM Underground financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RLM Underground leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
RLM Underground funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RLM Underground M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RLM Underground
What does RLM Underground do?
RLM Underground is a telecommunications infrastructure construction company that builds fiber optic networks for telecom carriers, utilities, and government entities. Core services include underground construction (fiber installation, drilling, trenching, plowing), aerial construction, telecom end-to-end OSP/ISP solutions, small cell engineering for 5G, and engineering services such as pole load analysis and route verification. The company operates across 18 U.S. states from its Kansas City headquarters, executing project-based contracts for fiber-to-the-home, broadband backbone, and small cell deployments.
Is RLM Underground a public or private company?
RLM Underground is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was RLM Underground founded?
RLM Underground was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is RLM Underground based?
RLM Underground is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does RLM Underground make money?
One revenue line is on record: infrastructure Construction Services.
Who are RLM Underground's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MasTec, Henkels & McCoy, M.C. Dean, Ervin Cable Construction, Dycom Industries, UtiliQuest and Primoris Services. Broad incumbents are Quanta Services, Black & Veatch and Pike Electric.
Does RLM Underground have an API?
No public API is recorded for RLM Underground.
What industry is RLM Underground in?
RLM Underground's product category is Telecommunications Infrastructure Construction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAIAK, Underground Duct, Conduit & Manhole/Vault Construction (Telecom Civils), with a secondary code of EUADADAI, Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying). Its NAICS code is 237130 and its SIC code is 1623.