The Niagara Global Tourism Institute (NGTI) has asked the city of Niagara Falls for $50,000 to create three blocks of public WIFI between the Seneca Niagara Casino and Niagara Falls State Park on Old Falls Street.
The purpose of the WIFI is to help tourists avoid the "roaming" charges that sometimes happen with phones that are close to Canada, and to also encourage tourists to expand their trip outside of the State Park.
"We think it's a great opportunity to move people around and let them understand some of the other things to do at Niagara Falls, not just go to The Falls and leave" NGTI Director Patrick Whalen said.
The overall project is estimated to cost $200,000, $100,000 of which has already been raised. A portion of that would go towards cyber security to ensure the WIFI network is safe for the thousands of users the NGTI expects to use it.
"There are firewalls in there," Whalen said, "and everyone who signs on must agree to the terms and conditions."
The NGTI is anticipating the WIFI networks to begin setting up in September so they can begin use in October.
The WIFI would pay for itself through the use of "banner ads" that would allow the WIFI to be "self sustaining" as Whalen calls it.
