(April 28, 2016) Though expected to be available and working last Tuesday, wireless Internet access in downtown Snow Hill has yet to happen.
“It’s for the public, tourists and other visitors,” Michael Day, town economic development consultant, said. “It’s another way for us to be friendly and welcoming to people. Salisbury already does this and Berlin did it a while ago.”
Four transponders have been installed: one on Green Street, two on River Street and another on Bank Street, Day said.
The coverage would include Sturgis Park and the Pocomoke River Canoe Company along the north edge of town and wouldn’t go much farther east, but would continue west to the area near the police station and likely as far south as Market Street, Day said.
Day said the system would support a webcam he hopes local broadcasters might use as part of their area showcases.
Right now, the network, which Day said was operable in some places but not others, has a generic name, but will be listed as “Snow Hill WiFi” on appropriate devices once the system goes live. A password, Day said, will not be required.
Similarly, Day confirmed the town will be providing internet access as a service, and will not be collecting or sharing any data about users’ habits or locations as they use the system.
The town is picking up the cost of the installation, around $1,200, Day said. There is also a monthly charge for service, which is less than the installation charge but also includes phone service for the town.
Taylor Ballard, business account executive with Comcast, said the delay would last a maximum of two weeks. Ballard said the hitch stems from the adaptation of a new product offered by Comcast into an outdoor downtown setting.
“This product, Comcast Business WiFi Pro, just launched a month ago,” he said. “It’s more built towards a small business environment.”
Ballard explained the traditional method for offering WiFi to the public is to bundle the service with an existing high-speed connection.
“You buy a big pipe and also provide WiFi. We can do it all now through this new product,” he said.
Generally speaking, Ballard said, you also do it indoors.
“It’s all there,” Ballard said of the infrastructure, “we just need to direct it to the main site. We really had to think outside of the box on this one.”
“It’s for the public, tourists and other visitors,” Michael Day, town economic development consultant, said. “It’s another way for us to be friendly and welcoming to people. Salisbury already does this and Berlin did it a while ago.”
Four transponders have been installed: one on Green Street, two on River Street and another on Bank Street, Day said.
The coverage would include Sturgis Park and the Pocomoke River Canoe Company along the north edge of town and wouldn’t go much farther east, but would continue west to the area near the police station and likely as far south as Market Street, Day said.
Day said the system would support a webcam he hopes local broadcasters might use as part of their area showcases.
Right now, the network, which Day said was operable in some places but not others, has a generic name, but will be listed as “Snow Hill WiFi” on appropriate devices once the system goes live. A password, Day said, will not be required.
Similarly, Day confirmed the town will be providing internet access as a service, and will not be collecting or sharing any data about users’ habits or locations as they use the system.
The town is picking up the cost of the installation, around $1,200, Day said. There is also a monthly charge for service, which is less than the installation charge but also includes phone service for the town.
Taylor Ballard, business account executive with Comcast, said the delay would last a maximum of two weeks. Ballard said the hitch stems from the adaptation of a new product offered by Comcast into an outdoor downtown setting.
“This product, Comcast Business WiFi Pro, just launched a month ago,” he said. “It’s more built towards a small business environment.”
Ballard explained the traditional method for offering WiFi to the public is to bundle the service with an existing high-speed connection.
“You buy a big pipe and also provide WiFi. We can do it all now through this new product,” he said.
Generally speaking, Ballard said, you also do it indoors.
“It’s all there,” Ballard said of the infrastructure, “we just need to direct it to the main site. We really had to think outside of the box on this one.”