Manhattan's free public Wi-Fi has reached about 185,000 people
A state grant and local partners put 124 free access points across Manhattan and Riley County, including at the emergency shelter.
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Community and business leaders gathered at Sunset Zoo on October 7 to celebrate the completion of a free public Wi-Fi network across Manhattan and Riley County, The Manhattan Mercury reported. WTC Fiber built it with a grant from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development's ADOPT program and matching support from local partners, about $855,000 in all.
The network has 124 access points at about 45 locations. WTC's Jeff Sackrider said about 185,000 different people have used it over the past two years, averaging about 450 users a day. The company has committed to maintain the equipment and donate the internet service for five years.
The Manhattan Emergency Shelter is one of the access points. Executive director Emily Wagner said clients use it to apply for jobs, attend telehealth appointments, and do online interviews. Sackrider called the project "a true community effort."
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