The Douglas County, Ga., Board of Commissioners announced that the Douglas County Courthouse is now the first courthouse in the metro Atlanta area -- and possibly in the state of Georgia -- to be completely Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi is a wireless communications network that allows the public to access the Internet anywhere inside the courthouse building using a laptop computer with wireless capability. This service is provided free of charge to the public as a courtesy and to assist attorneys who need Internet access in the courtrooms to help with their cases; businesspersons who made need to access information when they apply for occupational tax/business licenses, building permits, etc.; individuals who need to be back in touch with their offices while conducting business in the courthouse; and many other individuals.

The Wi-Fi system was designed and installed by the staff of the county Information Services Department for a fraction of the cost and time it would have taken an outside contractor to perform this service, according to a release from the county.

"Our staff is proud to have been able to provide this state-of-the-art technology to our citizens and install it economically," said Information Services Director Mike Amato. "Another benefit to our citizens." The Aironet/Cisco system can accommodate up to 75 users at the same time.
KW