ATHENS - Plans for a wireless Internet network to help low-income people in Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, and three other northeast Georgia counties access the Internet face stiff competition for federal funds.
The Athens-Clarke Economic Development Foundation applied for a federal grant to develop the Northeast Georgia Net, a project calling for $3.2 million to develop wireless Internet networks covering 29 cities in Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties.
The Northeast Georgia Net would offer wireless Internet service to areas lacking it and help low-income people gain access to the Internet through free computers. But organizers have learned they are competing against nearly 100 statewide projects.
Stephanie Sharp, a member of the Economic Development Foundation board, says if the net gets funded, she plans to make wireless Internet available to anyone inside the Athens Perimeter, especially in low-income neighborhoods.
Thursday
July 3rd, 2025
12:41AM
