AUGUSTA -- Something is in the air in downtown Augusta.
You can't see it, smell it or, without a computer, even know it's there.
But a wireless-enabled laptop computer knows what it is, and how to find it.
The city's new high-speed wireless Internet system is free for the first 50 businesses that sign up, free to visitors, and available to downtown residents for a fee.
City officials believe Augusta is one of the first cities in the country to provide free Wi-Fi use for businesses.
The service is intended to attract businesses, visitors and residents downtown -- and help keep them there.
"We use it. I think it's incredible, I'm a big fan of it," said Frank Coco, co-owner, with his brother, Anthony, of Visage Salon & Day Spa on Water Street. "Some people thought it was a lot of money for the city to spend, but it's a great asset to our business and new businesses coming in.
"It's sad to see a beautiful downtown like this struggle and have these empty storefronts. So I applaud the city and am hoping the city continues doing things like this to bring the downtown back."
The Wi-Fi signal is available within most of the waterfront territory, from approximately Hartford Fire Station to Edwards Mill Park. It also travels across the river to, for example, Augusta City Center.
Development Director Michael Duguay said six transmitters were installed to provide a signal throughout the downtown. The city is contracting with RedZone Wireless, of Rockland, to provide the service.
"It's something we should be very, very proud of," Duguay said. "Not many other communities in the United States are doing this."
The city paid about $44,000 to have the system installed and signed a three-year contract for the service, at a cost of $12,000 to $14,000 a year, Duguay said.
Mayor Roger Katz noted the city paid for the system using proceeds from the city's Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, downtown district.
TIFs allow municipalities to reinvest property taxes paid on new development within a district on infrastructure projects.
Katz estimated, due to the advantages of using a TIF, the $44,000 really cost the city more like $25,000.
Patrick Quigg, owner of the Riverfront BBQ and Grille, said his business uses the Wi-Fi service, and he also sees customers using it on their laptops while at the restaurant.
"I've noticed guests that will come in and actually have lunch and then stay another two or three hours, doing work on their laptop," Quigg said. "That's good for business.
"It's an extremely fast connection. It's faster than my cable at home. It's a great opportunity, not just for guests of my establishment, but also the general public, to open up a laptop and connect anywhere in the downtown. I think we're just touching the tip of the iceberg for potential down the road. The fact we're offering this is beginning to make us stand apart."
Visitors downtown with wireless enabled laptops should be able to find the city's Wi-Fi service and connect for free.
Duguay said one afternoon he came across one family who had recently followed the downtown's "Museum in the Streets," a series of signs describing historical events and places, outside City Center. He said the family was using a laptop computer to go online and search for more information about the sites they had just seen.
Visitors must register for an account to use the system. The account expires after seven days, but may be renewed, also for free.
The service is available to downtown residents, but at a cost.
Three tiers of residential service vary in cost based upon the amount of bandwidth speed. The different tiers cost $9.95, $19.95, or $24.95.
Duguay said the $24.95 level provides the fastest residential Internet service available in the area.
About 20 businesses have signed up for the service, and about a dozen residential users.
Tom Johnson, owner of Capitol Computers on Water Street, said his business already had its own high-speed Internet service established, so he isn't using the city's new system.
But that doesn't mean he thinks it's a bad idea.
"I haven't used (the city's service) myself, but I still see it as a positive," Johnson said. "I think it's great for the business community down the street, an attraction for small businesses."
The Wi-Fi system is part of other efforts to revitalize the downtown area, including the creation of signs to be installed throughout the city, directing motorists to the downtown.
"If we can just get people to spend some time in the downtown and along the riverfront, they'll see what a hidden jewel Augusta really is," Katz said.
Keith Edwards -- 621-5647
kedwards@centralmaine.com
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