Owen Sound is moving to provide free wireless internet service to the entire downtown that will basicly turn the core of the city into one giant internet cafe.
City Manager of Economic Development Steve Furness says they are now approaching downtown business where they can install wi fi equipment, which the city will provide for free.
He says the business will be asked to provide access to their existing internet but assures them the wireless equipment will not limit or interfere with their service or capacity.
Furness also says this wireless service will be secure and filtered and will only use unused bandwidth of the business internet connection.
He says funding for this project comes from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and is spread over three years.
Furness says this part of the overall development strategy of the city to help attract new customers to the downtown and also will make the downtown more attractive to visitors and business people.
He says the plan is to have the service available in Harrison Park, the entire downtown stretching to the Bayshore and the downtown harbour front.
It is hoped that the downtown core wireless network can be fully operational by the spring.