Corbin to test free downtown wireless Internet service Monday

Free wireless internet and a slice to go with it.

That’s what is on the menu Monday for anyone who wants to test the new wireless internet system in downtown Corbin.
According to Corbin Main Street Manager Sharae Myers, residents are invited to test the new wireless system Monday as Vittorino’s Italian restaurant will be on hand to offer a free slice of pizza to anyone who brings their laptop and is online, surfing the internet.

Myers said the event will hopefully work two-fold in the fact it is a way to get people interested, as well as give those involved in the project a chance to see just how much traffic the system can handle at one time. Myers said that she feels like the project is a necessity.

"It really is a necessity because our goal is to launch this service and help provide a better quality of life for those in the city of Corbin," she said. "Most major cities have wireless internet and they have a lot of individual businesses that will provide the service, but most major cities have an entirely wireless zone.

"So much these days, businesses are technology driven and this could really provide a boost in tourism," she added. "We have some places in The Tech Center, The Arena and Cumberland Falls where people who are visiting there will pass through downtown," she added. "If they have an opportunity to stop and have a business lunch with internet access, it will increase downtown traffic."

As for the range of the system, Myers said that access will be available from the area surrounding the recreation center and Rotary Park all the way south to the area of City Hall. Myers said people along Kentucky Ave. and some of Poplar Street will also have access, but limitations and restrictions will be in place.

Myers said parents do not have to worry about their children coming downtown and viewing inappropriate sites because that is one of the top priorities.

"Anytime you provide internet access to the public, you have to have restrictions in place," she said. "There will, of course, be no pornography or file sharing sites allowed and those will be filtered out."

In the end, Myers said the goal is to test the system and address any concerns that develop during the testing period. Hopefully, she said, there won’t be too many to deal with.

"The goal of this event is to let people know we are going live with this and to test the system to see if it can handle the amount of traffic that we expect," she said. "You get pizza, you get to be online and surf the Web, so I think it’s a great partnership between us and NewWave and Vittorino’s.

"They have really rolled out the red carpet for this and we have worked well together," she added. "In the next few weeks, we will be unveiling a really exciting signage campaign, so keep an eye out for that."

Door prizes will also be given away at the event, which will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday evening.