FREE WIFI NOW AVAILABLE AT TWO BRENHAM PARKS

  

Residents and tourists now have access to free WiFi at two parks in Brenham.

At last week’s meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Public Works Director Dane Rau announced free WiFi through ZochNet has come to Fireman’s Park near the baseball field and Linda Anderson Park.  Plans are in place to bring free WiFi to all city parks in the future, along with the downtown area and other facilities.

Assistant City Manager of Public Services and Utilities Donald Reese said the benefits of free internet connection spread far and wide.

 

Per the city’s license agreement with ZochNet, which was approved in August and runs for five years with one additional three-year renewal term, the rural internet provider will pay $200 per month for the exclusive right to install and maintain equipment on the city’s water towers on Jeffries Street and Church Street.  ZochNet will also install a free high-speed hotspot in downtown, fed from six mesh units mounted on light poles and two 1.5-megabyte connections to the backbone at the tower on Jeffries Street.

In addition, the agreement calls for 12 high-speed connections at the city’s outdoor recreation areas, such as parks and sports fields, as well as three more high-speed connections at locations to be determined by the city.  The company will also provide certified climbers to the city as needed for minor repairs and maintenance work associated with both water towers up to eight times a year.

Reese said Brenham is looking to upgrade internet services as more and more cities continue to invest heavily into their internet infrastructure.

 

Reese said he anticipates much of the work to bring free WiFi to the remaining areas as outlined in the agreement will be addressed next year.