Downtown wireless Internet proposed
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on March 20, 2008 1:46 PM
Downtown Goldsboro may soon have another attraction -- wireless Internet service.
Businessman David Weil spoke to the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s Board of Directors Wednesday about working with them to provide the service in part of the city.
Weil said he believes it will be an asset to the community, much like it is to larger cities.
During his trips to Washington, D.C. for board meetings, he said he frequents a coffee shop that has wireless service in order to check his e-mail -- something many businessmen do -- and most of the time, it is so packed, finding a seat is a difficult job.
He believes that bringing the service to the downtown area would in turn bring more people, both local and out-of-towners, downtown, he said.
Currently, wireless Internet service is available in the Waynesborough House, where Weil's office is located, and he sees the popularity of the it.
"I have noticed people in my lobby sitting there with their computers," he said, laughing.
Weil told the board members that he hasn't gone forward with anything but finding quotes for the projected area -- from the traffic circle down to the police department on Center Street and from George Street to William Street.
The estimates, he said, range from $5,000 to $20,000 for the equipment needed, and he is willing to help with the costs of the project.
His purpose was to inform them of his interest as well as checking to see if he was going in a direction that they approved.
"I just wanted to let you know that I'm looking into it," he said. "And if this is something you don't want, let me know now."
DGDC Director Julie Thompson agreed that the service was a great idea and believed the rest of the board as well as City Council members would feel the same way, but the thought is very preliminary.
She said she would meet sometime soon to meet with Weil to see what they could work out.
No date or locations were considered, as of yet, for the possible implementation of the service.