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Wireless Internet coming to Clarke County Wireless Internet is in the making for Clarke County, the Thomasville City Council learned Monday night. Danny D'Andrea of Alabama Power explained that a wireless committee has been formed to push for wireless connections for the county's municipalities- Thomasville, Grove Hill, Jackson, Fulton and Coffeeville. Once those are connected, efforts will be made to expand coverage to the rural county. "It looks like a go," D'Andrea told council members. New technologies are making wireless more feasible. Antennas will be placed on municipal water tanks and towers to provide connections. The program is being worked through the Clarke County Development Foundation. The feasibility study is costing $43,000 but D'Andrea said $25,000 has already been raised and the rest will be forthcoming. Serving on a committee with D'Andrea are Sharon Jones, Norman Burton, Marty Parker and EMA Director Roy Waite, representing the fire and police departments. The municipalities are being asked to contribute based on a square mile coverage cost. Thomasville's share is $5,500, Jackson's is $11,000 and Grove Hill, Fulton and Coffeeville are all much less, under $1,000 each. The municipalities will recoup their investments by getting free Internet service. Schools, police and fire departments will also be provided with service. D'Andrea estimated that monthly costs for the service would be around $10 for residential customers and $40 for businesses. There would also be a one-time hookup charge of $75 to $100. Profits from the system would be rolled back to the community in the form of grants and contributions. "All of the money is going to come back to the county one way or another," D'Andrea said.
He asked the Thomasville council for financial support from the city as well as for permission to install antennas on the water tanks and for a letter of support. The requests were all granted.
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