NORFOLK, Va. – You can now take your laptop out to Town Point Park and get some work done without using your own hotspot.
The City of Norfolk is now offering 24/7 public Wi-Fi connections from parking lots, outside city facilities including Nauticus, as well as recreation centers, libraries and schools - even from buildings that remain closed for safety during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
The city received funding from the CARES Act to expand Wi-Fi in public areas to 20 new locations.
“The internet is super necessary for keeping in touch and applying for jobs and all that kind of stuff," says Norfolk resident James Chye.
To assist residents with locating these public Wi-Fi connections, the city’s Geographic Information Services team created an interactive map.
“We are all finding new ways to stay connected and stay safe as the pandemic continues,” said the city's Chief Information Officer, Fraser Picard.
Parents and students can also access Wi-Fi outside most Norfolk public schools. All they have to do is sign in through the school’s network.
These public Wi-Fi locations have been filtered to block inappropriate content and to address security and bandwidth issues.
Leaders say the city the does not provide “tech support” for Wi-Fi in these public access locations. Each location will work to ensure a continuous signal, but there is no “troubleshooting” contact.
For more info on how to access #ConnectNorfolk, click here.
