Augusta Gets Free Wi-Fi

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. Savannah, Statesboro and Hapeville were awarded grants in 2008.

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A Million for Free Wireless Internet

Free wireless internet access will be the subject of a meeting tomorrow, hosted by the GA Technology Authority.

A million dollars in state funds is available to Georgia communities who want to go wireless through the Wireless Communities Georgia program; it develops free wireless internet access.

Rome's Information Technology director Jason Lovett said he's going to the meeting to find out if Rome can receive some of the funds.

"We are looking to expand not only public internet access, which is what we offer right now, but to provide more mobile work force for the city government, to enable access for building inspectors, for example, to do more work in the field," said Lovett.

Lovett said free wireless internet is already available downtown through federal funds, but more work needs to be done.

Last year, state lawmakers set aside four million dollars for the program. However, only six out of the 17 communities that applied received program funding.

For GPB News, I’m Ashley Horn in Rome.