Mayor David O’Mary announced Tuesday after a meeting of the Jasper City Council that the City of Jasper will soon offer free public Wi-Fi in parts of of the city as part of the Connected Jasper project.
Connected Jasper is a partnership between Alabama Power Company, Tengo Internet, and the City of Jasper and is made possible by a $1.6 million federal grant through the Department of the Interior and the Alabama Department of Labor to advance economic opportunity.
The grant will support the installation of the network and the city will cover all energy-related and maintenance costs.
“A city cannot grow without technology,” O’Mary said. “This is a major step into the 21st century. It will allow this city to connect with the digital economy. It’s the way of the future.”
There will be several locations in Jasper that will be equipped with public Wi-Fi access points, including the downtown corridor, multiple housing authorities, Memorial Park Elementary School, Maddox Intermediate School, North Highlands School and Jasper Public Library, providing free internet access to students, residents, businesses and visitors.
The network is designed to support up to 500 devices at one time with approximately 68 access points. Plans are for the public Wi-Fi network to be accessible by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
O’Mary was especially appreciative of the support the city has received from Alabama Power, which has also allowed for LED lighting on public roadways and a 41-mile fiber loop around the city.
“As I share this information today, you can see the benefits of our relationship with Alabama Power Company,” O’Mary said. “Through that relationship and their (Alabama Power) guidance, we have been able to make significance progress to be a smart city.
“We are proud to be moving towards a new, digital economy in Jasper,” O’Mary added. “Wifi and connectivity underpin inclusive economic development in our growing digital economy, creating for a smarter and more resilient community.”
