Stephens Co. To Upgrade Wi-Fi at Government Building

Stephens County is planning to upgrade its wireless Internet service for its government building and historic courthouse.

Last Tuesday, Stephens County Commissioners approved a budget amendment to pay added costs associated with upgrading the Public Wi-Fi connection for both the Stephens County Government Building and the historic Stephens County Courthouse.

Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Rusty Smith and others appeared before county commissioners to make the request.

Smith said they have had regular problems with the Internet service in the Government Building.

“The construction of the building is such that the existing wireless Internet is slow and there are numerous dead spots,” said Smith, who added that there are complaints that it is not accessible at times in the courtroom.

Smith said that he does not use the wireless Internet.

However, he said that puts in him the minority as the demand for it is very high.

According to Smith, Judge Caudell, lawyers, expert witnesses, and others all need it on a regular basis.

Officials said that the upgrade would require both a capital expenditure of about $38,000, as well as increased monthly costs.

Smith said that the law library fund committee has agreed to cover the cost of the capital expenditure to make the upgrade and is only asking the county to cover the increased monthly cost, which when all is said and done, officials say would likely be less than an extra $50 a month.

According to Smith, for that increased cost, the Government Building would not be the only building to benefit, but that there would be the same access in the historic courthouse.

No specific timeline was given for when the upgrades would be made.

Stephens County Commissioners approved the requested budget amendment unanimously.