Connecting Walton to the Internet

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November 21, 2009

Library hopes to start offering free wireless by March

by Denise Massie Pharos-Tribune Sat Nov 21, 2009, 10:18 PM EST

Walton residents may soon have access to free wireless Internet.

Gordon Southern, director of the Walton-Tipton Township Public Library, is hoping to start offering residents the free access early next year.

“Our goal right now, since we are waiting on stimulus money, is the first of March,” he said.

Southern said there are several reasons the library is attempting to offer the free community-wide Internet service.

“Part of this was because we knew there was stimulus money available to extend broad-band,” he explained. “Knowing that, we thought it would be a good opportunity to do something for the community.”

One reason, he said, was due to the limited Internet services available in Walton.

“Once you get outside of Walton, there is a dead zone and it’s almost impossible to get Internet,” he said. “Some strictly have dial-up and that is it. This would be something good for the community to help with growth and development and maybe bring the people together, if we could provide that service for them.”

According to Gordon, the idea was developed before the stimulus money even became available. He said the idea came about last spring when he noticed a number of people coming to the library just to use the Internet.

If things work as planned, Gordon said Walton residents would not have to pay for the service.

The computer’s receiver would need a Wi-Fi card for to work. Gordon said most laptops come with a Wi-Fi card, while most desktops do not. He is planning to order cards for those who are interested and is even willing to install the cards into the computers, for anyone needing help.

The library has applied for the grant, but will not find out if it will receive the funds until after the first of the year.

“We are hoping to get $2,500 from the stimulus plan as a grant,” Southern said. “We do have community groups working to raise money.”

The library will need between $4,000 and $5,000 to get things started for the system.

Southern said the most expensive part of the plan is the continuing services.

“We already get grants for that,” he added. “We also have a lot of bandwidth not being used. We are only using 20 percent and feel we have enough for the community to use.”

So far, Walton Main Street, Friends of the Library, Walton Library, Indiana State Library and Walton residents Dick and Sharon Case have helped raise almost $1,000 to go towards the project.

While he said the grant money would help out tremendously, Southern plans on moving forward even if it is not approved.

“We are close enough that, even if we didn’t get the grant, we could raise the money on our own,” he said. “I’m feeling comfortable and confident that we are going to be able to do this.”

Southern hopes the free community-wide Internet access will promote economic growth in Walton. He said when companies and people look at moving to an area, they look at parks, sidewalks and Internet availability, among other things.

The town is also working on repairing its sidewalks and recently opened a new park.

“We’re just trying to do more things to make Walton more attractive,” he said.

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com

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