Is public Wi-Fi really a need that should be payed for by Tax Payer Dollars? Michael Sanera has written two recent Spotlights looking into the issue in Wilson and Salisbury. Now Marion has gone down this road.
From the McDowell News:
Downtown Marion is now a Wi-Fi hot spot.
City officials announced Wednesday that a free wireless Internet network has been installed in the downtown corridor. It should be operating now.
Several months ago, the city sought interested companies to build the Wi-Fi network. Trificient Technologies of Mount Airy was selected to make the installation. The $30,600 project was funded through a grant from the N.C. STEP program and no city tax money was used for the installation. It went up faster than expected, said Marion officials.
The system is run out of City Hall, with transmitters located on the Griffith’s Jewelers building, the Police Department and City Hall. The service is available along Main Street, stretching from City Hall and the Community Building to just south of the Police Department near the intersection of South Main and Morgan streets. Service is also available about one block off of Main Street, at the Historic Marion Tailgate Market on West Henderson Street and in the Depot area.
