Cities explore public wireless areas; Some Georgia towns are trying to expand free Wi-Fi coverage, thanks to a state program.

ATLANTA - With the help of state money, a handful of Georgia cities are encouraging business and technology by creating large-area wireless blankets that allow laptop computer users to connect to the Internet.

Convinced that such wireless areas can boost business activity and make life easier for residents, cities and counties are planning to apply this year for the state's second round of funding in hopes of starting their own mobile Web environment.

Last year, the state awarded $4 million to six local governments as part of the Wireless Communities Georgia program.

This year, the Georgia Technology Authority boasts another $1 million to expand the initiative in another two or three communities, and officials say they expect a surge in interest before grant applications are due Sept. 28.

The program requires a match of local money, and communities are expected to outline a detailed business plan. They must show how they plan to offer wireless service by partnering with a private company and making the service financially self-sufficient through user fees or other sources such as advertising.

While the public Wi-Fi trend is catching on nationally with cities like San Francisco and Philadelphia, the idea has its share of detractors who argue that taxpayer money should not be involved with services already offered by the private sector.

For some areas of the state, the one-time state grant helps kick-start investment from Internet service providers, said Jeff McCord, GTA's director of intergovernmental relations.

"In some cases, private providers weren't stepping up, particularly in rural communities," he said.

"We heard from a lot of these communities that this gives them another opportunity promote themselves with economic development."

Though several cities have launched wireless Internet blankets, Georgia became the first state last year to take it up as a statewide program.

Gov. Sonny Perdue pushed for the funding as part of his larger goal to improve broadband Internet access in the state.

Other Georgia cities, such as Athens and Rome, which did not receive a state grant, are moving forward on their own to provide public wireless service.

SERVICE COULD BE TOO SLOW

The programs vary by city and range from free access to service charges. To receive the state money, cities have to provide at least a low-level service that is free to use but might be too slow for some computer users' patience threshold.

Faster connections, perhaps with fewer advertising notices, might be sold for a monthly subscription or fee.

Wireless signals are broadcast throughout an area with small antennas often mounted on stop lights or telephone poles.

Businesses and residents might be able to pick up the signals to use inside or buy special amplifiers to boost the signal.

Proponents say the amenity will push communities ahead and that a few years down the road, wireless Internet connectivity will be just as important to people as having a cell phone signal is now.

"Younger entrepreneurs, they're not going to move their business into an area that doesn't have cellular coverage. Wireless is the next step," said Gary Hewett, Augusta's assistant director of information technology.

AUGUSTA SET TO EXPAND

Augusta was one of six local governments that received the state's initial batch of wireless community funding.

The city on its own had launched public wireless service in its Augusta Commons downtown park, but applied to the state to expand the network to a 4-square-mile swath covering downtown.

Hewett said the plan is to eventually expand the coverage citywide.

Augusta received nearly $563,000 in state money and put up $281,000 in local money for the project, which is required to be running a year from now.

Hewett said long-range plans include expanding coverage into schools and offering free connections in low-income housing areas.

Next year, though, the wireless blanket should help in the city's ongoing revitalization efforts downtown, Hewett said.

"Most businesses, they put their wireless inside," he said, referring to the numerous book stores, coffee shops and restaurants that now offer wireless Internet connections. "Our draw is to bring human beings downtown by bringing wireless outside and seamless" from place to place.

Augusta officials plan to have a business partner chosen in the coming weeks.

vicky.eckenrode@morris.com, (678) 977-4601