Six communities in Georgia are going high-tech with free wireless internet service, even making hotspots out of of homes.
Augusta has gone online with its internet.
Augusta's mayor says the service will cover a four mile area, including much of the city's downtown, as well as universities, and some schools and businesses. He says some low-income residents will also have access to the service in their homes.
Mayor Deke Copenhaver:
"Basically our world has shifted and access to information is of the utmost importance."
Many cities have zones providing free access to wireless internet, but they often subsidize the costs. Augusta's wi-fi is subsidized by a grant from the state.
People in the wi-fi zone will get two hours of free service a day, and additional hours at what Augusta officials call a competitive rate.
The state provided funding for similar projects in Decatur, Dublin, Gwinnett County, Milledgeville and Thomasville in a first round of grants in 2006. S
