In the ever-evolving landscape of infrastructure and utility services, few events underscore the fragility of specialized labor markets like the recent N&S Locating Services layoffs. Announced in mid-August 2025, this workforce reduction has sent ripples through North Carolina’s utility sector, affecting 126 dedicated professionals and raising questions about the stability of contract-dependent industries. The N&S Locating Services layoffs, triggered by an abrupt loss of a major client contract, highlight broader challenges in the underground utility locating field, where economic shifts and client decisions can upend operations overnight. As we delve into the factors behind these cuts, it’s clear that the N&S Locating Services layoffs are not just a corporate footnote but a cautionary tale for workers in niche service sectors.
A Legacy Built on Precision and Expansion
To understand the N&S Locating Services layoffs, one must first appreciate the company’s storied history. Founded in 1977 by Crawford Smith and Wayne Newkirk, S&N Communications—now operating as S&N Infrastructure and N&S Locating Services—began as a modest venture in cable splicing amid a burgeoning demand for telecommunications infrastructure. The duo’s philosophy was simple yet enduring: complete the work right, no matter what it takes. This ethos propelled the company from its roots in Virginia to a regional powerhouse serving nine southeastern states and Washington, D.C.
By the early 2000s, S&N had diversified beyond splicing into full turn-key solutions, encompassing fiber optic installation, power distribution construction, gas pipeline work, engineering design, and, crucially, underground utility locating. This last service, which involves using electromagnetic signals, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and other technologies to map and mark buried lines for utilities like gas, water, electricity, and telecom, became a cornerstone of their offerings. In December 2023, a pivotal recapitalization by Salt Lake City-based private equity firm Tower Arch Capital rebranded segments of the business as N&S Locating Services, injecting fresh capital to fuel expansion. Headquartered in Louisa, Virginia, the company now boasts over 85 million feet of fiber optic cable installed and connections to more than 3 million homes and businesses.
The growth wasn’t without challenges. The utility locating industry, governed by standards like those from the Common Ground Alliance, demands precision to prevent costly digs and safety hazards. S&N’s technicians, often working in rugged terrain across states like North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida, honed skills in electromagnetic locating and GPR to meet these demands. Their Youngsville, North Carolina field office, established to support regional telecom booms, became a hub for over 150 workers by 2025. Yet, this very expansion sowed seeds for vulnerability: heavy reliance on large-scale contracts with telecom giants like Brightspeed, which accounted for a significant portion of North Carolina revenue.
WARN Notice Screenshot Figure 1: Excerpt from the North Carolina Department of Commerce WARN summary dated August 20, 2025, highlighting the N&S Locating Services layoffs of 126 employees.
The Announcement: A Sudden Storm in Youngsville
The N&S Locating Services layoffs hit like a thunderclap on August 18, 2025, when the company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice with the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The filing detailed the permanent separation of 126 employees, all reporting to the 12 Craftsman Drive office in Youngsville, Franklin County—a small town 25 miles north of Raleigh. Effective September 8, 2025, these cuts would eliminate nearly the entire North Carolina workforce tied to utility locating operations, leaving an uncertain number of remaining staff.
Mary Kay, N&S’s Director of Human Resources, penned the somber letter: “As a result of this unanticipated loss of business, N&S will suffer a severe drop in revenue and will be left with no choice but to lay off employees currently servicing that contract in the state.” The affected roles spanned utility locators, field technicians, and support staff—non-unionized workers without bumping rights, meaning no internal transfers to other positions. For many, this meant abrupt ends to careers built on years of fieldwork, often involving early mornings, harsh weather, and the high-stakes responsibility of preventing multimillion-dollar utility strikes.
The timing was particularly jarring. Just months earlier, S&N had touted expansions, including hiring drives for gas locate technicians across North Carolina. Social media posts from the company’s Facebook page in May 2025 showed teams “gearing up” for fieldwork, emphasizing safety and growth. By August, however, the narrative shifted to survival.
The Culprit: Losing the Brightspeed Lifeline
At the heart of the N&S Locating Services layoffs lies a single, devastating decision: Brightspeed’s termination of its contract with N&S, effective September 1, 2025. Brightspeed, a fiber-optic internet provider serving rural and suburban markets, had been N&S’s largest client in North Carolina. The partnership involved critical utility locating for Brightspeed’s ambitious fiber network expansion, aiming to connect nearly 900,000 locations with multi-gig-speed service. With 140,000 existing customers in the state, Brightspeed’s builds were a revenue engine for N&S, funding equipment upgrades and team expansions.
Why the split? Company officials declined detailed comment, but industry whispers point to cost pressures and performance metrics. Brightspeed, backed by Apollo Global Management since its 2021 spin-off from Charter Communications, has faced scrutiny over deployment delays and service quality. A Reddit thread from early 2025 lamented install waits exceeding seven months, fueling vendor shake-ups. N&S’s “unanticipated” loss suggests a competitive bid or internal audit favored a cheaper or more agile alternative—perhaps in-house teams or rivals like Northstate Utility Locating.
This wasn’t isolated. The telecom sector’s post-pandemic fiber rush, spurred by federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funds, created a boom-bust cycle. Providers like Brightspeed, racing to meet deadlines, prioritize vendors who can scale rapidly without hiccups. For N&S, the contract represented up to 70% of North Carolina locating revenue, per analyst estimates. Its abrupt end cascaded into the N&S Locating Services layoffs, as fixed costs like vehicles, GPR units, and office leases became unsustainable.
Utility Locating Technicians at Work Figure 2: S&N Infrastructure technicians preparing for gas locate fieldwork in North Carolina, as shared on company social media in May 2025— a snapshot of operations just months before the layoffs.
Broader Industry Pressures: A Perfect Storm
The N&S Locating Services layoffs reflect systemic strains in the $10 billion U.S. utility locating market. Growth has been explosive—driven by 5G rollouts, EV charging infrastructure, and renewable energy grids—but so has competition. Firms like USIC and Schneider Geospatial dominate with national footprints, squeezing mid-tier players like N&S on margins. Labor shortages, exacerbated by the “Great Resignation,” have hiked wages 15-20% since 2022, while clients demand 24/7 availability.
Regulatory hurdles compound this. The 811 “Call Before You Dig” system mandates locating services, but inconsistent enforcement leads to disputes. In North Carolina, recent BEAD grants promise $1.5 billion for broadband, yet delays in fund disbursement have stalled projects, prompting preemptive cuts. Private equity ownership, like Tower Arch’s stake in N&S, often prioritizes short-term returns, accelerating restructurings.
Economically, the N&S Locating Services layoffs contribute to North Carolina’s 2025 layoff tally, which topped 5,000 by September per Commerce Department data. Franklin County’s rural economy, reliant on construction and telecom, faces ripple effects: reduced local spending, strained families, and pressure on workforce retraining programs.
Human Impact: Stories from the Field
Behind the numbers are lives upended. Take John Ramirez, a 12-year veteran locator from Youngsville (name changed for privacy), who shared anonymously on TheLayoff.com: “We marked thousands of miles for Brightspeed’s fiber dream. Now, we’re the collateral.” Many affected workers, aged 35-55, face re-entry barriers in a field requiring certifications like those from the National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NULCA).
Support resources have mobilized. The North CarolinaWorks Career Center in Franklin County offers resume workshops and job fairs, partnering with rivals for placements. Yet, severance—60 days’ pay under WARN—barely cushions the blow amid 4.2% statewide unemployment.
S&N Infrastructure Team Event Figure 3: S&N Infrastructure team at a Caldwell County trades event in October 2024, illustrating community engagement before the 2025 challenges.
Company Response and Path Forward
N&S has remained tight-lipped, with no public statements beyond the WARN filing. Internally, efforts focus on redeploying unaffected staff to Virginia or other states, though details are sparse. Tower Arch Capital’s involvement suggests potential asset sales or pivots to gas and power segments, which comprise 40% of revenue.
Looking ahead, N&S could rebound by chasing BEAD contracts or innovating with AI-assisted locating tools. For the industry, the N&S Locating Services layoffs signal a need for diversified client bases and union protections. As Brightspeed’s spokesperson Gene Rodriguez Miller noted, “Our fiber network build plans remain on track,” underscoring the disconnect between client ambitions and vendor realities.
Conclusion: Lessons from the Underground
The N&S Locating Services layoffs serve as a stark reminder of contract fragility in America’s hidden infrastructure economy. What began as a 1977 splicing startup evolved into a vital utility locator, only to face reduction from a single client’s pivot. As North Carolina’s affected workers seek new digs—perhaps in renewables or logistics—the sector must address over-reliance on mega-contracts. For N&S, survival hinges on agility; for employees, resilience. In the end, the true cost of these 126 jobs isn’t just revenue lost—it’s the unseen lines connecting communities, now at risk of being overlooked.
FAQ: N&S Locating Services Layoffs
Q1: What caused the N&S Locating Services layoffs? A: The primary trigger was the unanticipated termination of a major contract with Brightspeed, N&S’s largest North Carolina client, effective September 1, 2025. This led to a severe revenue drop, necessitating the permanent layoffs of 126 employees.
Q2: How many employees were affected, and when did the layoffs take effect? A: Exactly 126 non-unionized workers reporting to the Youngsville, NC office were impacted. The separations became effective on September 8, 2025, following a WARN Act notice filed on August 18, 2025.
Q3: Will N&S Locating Services face more layoffs? A: No further announcements have been made as of November 19, 2025. The company is focusing on redeployment and diversification into gas and power services, but economic pressures in telecom could pose ongoing risks.
Q4: What support is available for laid-off workers? A: Affected employees receive 60 days’ pay under WARN. North CarolinaWorks offers free career counseling, job placement, and training in related fields like renewable energy locating. Contact the Franklin County Career Center at (919) 556-5770.
Q5: How does this impact Brightspeed’s services? A: Brightspeed states its fiber expansion remains on track, with nearly 900,000 North Carolina locations targeted. The work has shifted to other vendors, minimizing disruptions to customers.
