Buncombe libraries offer free wireless

Posted on by Jason Sandford

If you’re looking for free wireless Internet access with no time limits, then stop by one of Buncombe County’s 12 public libraries.

The libraries will offer wireless service from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. If you want to use the service, you need to bring your library card and laptop to your library’s staff, who, by the way, will not be able to offer you technical assistance with your gear.

“Wi-fi access has been at the top of the list in requested services,” Ed Sheary, the county’s library director, said in a news release. “We’re happy to expand our Internet access across the community and encourage more people to come down and check out their local library.”

For more information, call your local library or send an e-mail to library@buncombecounty.org. Click here for a list of Buncombe County library locations. Click here for general information about the county’s libraries.

— Jason Sandford, multimedia editor

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5 thoughts on “Buncombe libraries offer free wireless”

  3. Wally Bowen

    Zen — Our Wi-Fi City vision is not just for downtown; it’s for the entire city — eventually the entire coounty — with a special emphasis on underserved neighborhoods.

    http://www.main.nc.us/wifi

    We estimate the cost of city-wide Wi-Fi at $1 million, which is very cheap as infrastructure projects go. That’s using current unlicensed spectrum.

    If we’re successful with spectrum reform, the cost would be even lower.

    http://www.freepress.net/news/29184

    Our model which is already operational in nine Asheville neighborhoods, is getting a lot of national attention. I presented in Washington, D.C. at the “Wireless Visionaries” summit two weeks ago, last week in Minneapolis, and next week back in DC at the natinoal Rural Assembly.

    The beauty of our model is that the network assets are grounded in the community and — unlike municipal wi-fi — are not subject to shifting political winds or anti-muniwireless laws passed by the cable and telco industry.

    You can inquire about our existing service here:
    http://main.nc.us/wireless/

    wally

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