The recently-announced Google Fiber for Communities Initiative provides Rocky Mount with a one-time opportunity to partner with the global leader for online information and data management. If our campaign is successful, Rocky Mount will serve as a site for a Google pilot project creating a fiber optic network capable of internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second (1Gbps). Comparatively, this is 100 to 1,000 times faster than upload and download speeds available to residential and business customers today.

 

The future of Rocky Mount and the Twin Counties depends heavily on the availability of modern infrastructure, including ready access to broadband Internet at speeds comparable to technology and information-focused centers like the Research Triangle (Raleigh/Durham) and Charlotte. Whether we work to recruit synergies amongst the "Creative Class," or strive to connect local businesses and entrepreneurs to markets across the state, country, and globe, we need to secure a catalyst that delivers the necessary Internet bandwidth that effectively generates unlimited economic opportunity in our greater community.

 

Between now and March 26th, Rocky Mount needs to assemble a community-wide coalition of support of individuals, entrepreneurs, business managers, civic organizations, and public agencies to advocate for the recruitment of the Google Fiber for Communities Initiative to Rocky Mount. Because of Google's request for community nominations as part of the application process, this support needs to be expressed at the micro level by citizens, small businesses, charities, clubs, and local leaders.