After gaining national attention for taking the initiative to install its own 1 gigabit-per-second fiber Internet networks, Rockport is joining a series of communities from around the country to launch a new initiative, Next Century Cities. The inaugural event takes place in Santa Monica, Calif., Oct. 20, and Rockport Town Manager Rick Bates, as well as Select Board member Geoffrey Parker, plan to be there.

The only other Maine community involved in the Next Century Cities is South Portland. Chris Dumais, South Portland’s Information Technology Director, will represent that city.

In August, Rockport established Maine’s first-ever municipally-owned, ultra-fast fiber Internet network. Rockport's new network is a gigabit per second network, meaning that it's theoretically capable of transmitting 1,000 megabits of data per second. 

Next Century Cities is a bipartisan, city-to-city initiative dedicated to ensuring the availability of next-generation broadband Internet for all communities. Leaders from the 31 cities (and town) are forming Next Century Cities will be attending, where speakers and panelists will discuss the importance of broadband Internet to communities nationwide, and how the initiative will support communities cementing access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet.

Next Century Cities: Inaugural Partner Cities (31)

Ammon, ID                                  Auburn, IN

Austin, TX                                   Boston, MA

Centennial, CO                           Champaign, IL

Chattanooga, TN                        Clarksville, TN

Jackson, TN                                Kansas City, KS

Kansas City, MO                          Lafayette, LA

Leverett, MA                               Louisville, KY

Montrose, CO                             Morristown, TN

Mount Vernon, WA                      Palo Alto, CA

Ponca City, OK                            Portland, OR

Raleigh, NC                                 Rockport, ME

San Antonio, TX                          Sandy, OR

Santa Cruz County, CA                Santa Monica, CA

South Portland, ME                      Urbana, IL

Westminster, MD                         Wilson, NC

Winthrop, MN           

The launch will feature a special video from Federal Communications Chairman Tom Wheeler, as well as several speakers and panelists. This new initiative will support communities and their elected leaders as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet.

WHO: Mayors and City Leaders from 32 Cities across the Country, including:

•  Mayor Pam O’Connor, Santa Monica (CA)

•  Mayor Joey Durel, Lafayette (LA)

•  Mayor Andy Berke, Chattanooga (TN)

•  Mayor Dana Kirkham, Ammon (ID)

•  Mayor Jill Boudreau, Mount Vernon (WA)

•  Will Aycock, Greenlight Operations Manager, Wilson (NC)

•  Jory Wolf, Chief Information Officer, Santa Monica (CA)

•  Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief Information Officer, Boston (MA)

•  Ashley Hand, Chief Innovation Officer, Kansas City (MO)

•  Gail Roper, Chief Information and Community Relations Officer, Raleigh (NC)

•  Terry Huval, Director of Lafayette Utilities System, Lafayette (LA)

•  Mary Beth Henry, Director of Office for Community Technology & Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, Portland (OR)

LINK: Watch the live webcast at http://takeonedigital.com/ee/NCCLaunch/