Woodstock Ver Mont WiFi Begins Phase Two

Wireless Woodstock, the free community wireless service provided by the local public library in Woodstock Vermont has successfully completed Phase One and has begun Phase Two expansion to cover most of the village. This initiative is one of the most innovative community development programs in the country – the first community supported wireless service in Vermont and one of about five in the United States. Initial Phase Two elements are expected to be completed in time for the annual Wassail Weekend and include the installation of additional access points, increasing the wireless coverage area by 40%, and the launch of the Wireless Woodstock website. The Norman Williams Public Library board has named a diverse ten-person oversight committee with members representing different segments of the Woodstock community. At their last meeting, committee members approved the content and layout of the Wireless Woodstock website, which will include valuable information and resources for both locals and visitors. The homepage will showcase current events, entertainment, and things to do, as well as places to eat, shop, and stay.



The Vermont Standard will provide ongoing updates of local news, and the homepage will also provide a venue for local officials to post information such as school closings or traffic alerts. Links to additional resources will provide important information to visitors, such as the location of the public rest rooms, as well as more detailed information for those interested in relocating their family or business to Woodstock Vermont. And the word on Wireless Woodstock is getting out. Over the warmer months it was common to see someone on a bench on The Green checking email. Now that cooler weather is here, more often you’ll find the occupant of a car parked by The Green working on a laptop or iPad. A guest at a local inn emailed Wireless Woodstock and expressed delight at being able to access the community wifi service, and a Barnard resident reports regular trips to Woodstock to take advantage of free broadband internet, as her work requires her to regularly download large files, a near impossibility on her dial-up connection. In addition to the more obvious benefits of free wireless internet access, Wireless Woodstock also has the ability to change perceptions. A part-time Woodstock resident of more than 10 years mentioned that when her family made their frequent visits Woodstock, her children would tell their friends that they were “…going to Amish country.” Wireless Woodstock turns that notion on its head and makes a statement about the community’s vision. To a motorist traveling through Woodstock, an alert on their smartphone notifying them of a free wifi connection informs them that Woodstock is even more than the Prettiest Town in America. It’s a savvy, forward-thinking place, a great place to live, raise a family, and start or move a business.