What would you do if you could pay for wireless internet service in your home the same way you paid for water or electric service?
A new committee formed by the Haymarket Town Council will explore that question.
Haymarket Mayor David Leake said the panel will weigh the options of rolling out wireless broadband internet service in the town. Visitors, residents, and business owners could potentially use the WiFi service.
Comcast is the only provider of broadband internet services in the town.
Verizon provided its Fios product to homes just outside the town limits but decided not to offer the service inside the town, said Leake.
“The Greenfield Crossing community of about 400 homes, half is in Gainesville and the other is in Haymarket. About half the homes [in Haymarket] do not have Fios,” said Leake.
Manassas offered a similar wireless program in its downtown area. The program was canceled years ago, said city spokeswoman Patty Prince.
A report by Cisco states the rollout of municipal wireless is becoming more popular. Not only can municipal wireless be used to connect computer users in parks and other public places and in private homes, town employees may also use the WiFi broadband to perform their job duties.
Leake said the wireless broadband committee is just forming and, and that a date for the committee to report their findings has yet to be set.
