BATESVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Batesville is offering free public internet in its downtown area.
The free service was launched Tuesday, according to The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (https://bit.ly/2iadsD0 ). It’s being implemented to attract more people to the downtown district, which has been revitalized over the past three years. Batesville is 70 miles west of Jonesboro.
Batesville Main Street executive director Joel Williams said the town is the second in Arkansas to offer free internet access throughout its downtown. Conway was the first.
The service has restrictions on most streaming video in order to prevent the system from being frequently overwhelmed. The system can handle between 20 and 40 people at each of its seven access points.
Restaurant owner Sherry Stott said she thinks free wireless internet will spark an interest in the Main Street area.
Bob Carius, former president of Main Street Batesville’s board of directors, said activity in the downtown area has surged only recently because merchants and officials have bought into a cohesive vision to upgrade the area.
According to Carius, Batesville’s downtown area, along with others across the country, suffered decades ago when department stores along thoroughfares began to take business away from those areas.
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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, https://www.arkansasonline.com
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