By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Wi-Fi Internet technology is now available at Buffalo City Hall.
Wi-Fi allows people to access the Internet through a wireless connection on their lap top computers. The Erie County Industrial Development Agency has been spearheading an effort involving several partners to bring the technology to public areas of the city.
Last year, Wi-Fi became available in Lafayette Square where it's now common to see downtown office workers surfing the web on their lap tops during lunch hour. Now, says ECIDA Director Charles Webb, it's in City Hall.
"This isn't the private sector doing it in a private building. We're making it available as public access," Webb said. "Our hope for next year is to find ways to make it available Wi-Fi accessible in neighborhood business districts."
Webb says Wi-Fi will soon be available in Niagara Square and the Erie Basin Marina.
Verizon provided a $20,000 grant to bring Wi-Fi to public areas. No government funds are being used.
Webb made a brief presentation last week to members of the Common Council.
"Now, we can all open a lap-top. If accessing the Internet is important to the discussion, we now can do it," Webb continued.
Even better, when the Council meetings start to drag on and on with endless debate, people equipped with lap tops can quietly log on to check their e-mail or surf their favorite web sites.