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EBENSBURG — Internet access will soon be available for park users at Duman Lake County Park.
The Cambria County commissioners approved a five-year contract Thursday that will provide free internet and WiFi capabilities.
“This just makes sense,” Cambria County President Commissioner Tom Chernisky said. “This allows us to build a new foundation to provide greater internet access for rural areas.”
With the approval, the county joins a $6,000 contract with In the Stix Broadband, which specializes in providing internet access in rural areas.
The commissioners approved a $1.1 million infrastructure contract with In the Stix in September to provide broadband service throughout the county, and the new deal at Duman Lake County Park will provide bandwidth of at least 23 by 3 megabits per second.
The $6,000 contract covers installation fees for the infrastructure, and In the Stix will donate internet access for the first five years to the park.
The deal will be renegotiated once the five-year contract expires, according to Ethan Imhoff, executive director of the Cambria County Planning Commission.
“This really is a bargain for the county,” he said. “Older people may want to disconnect when they come to the park, but younger generations like to have their social media available. They want to come to the park, take pictures and put them on Instagram. If they can’t connect with their friends while they’re here, they won’t come here.”
County officials said internet access also will make the park safer.
With most phones having the ability to make WiFi calls, officials said the broadband can help eliminate barriers in communication to 911 officials if there is an emergency.
“The safety net this will provide will be invaluable,” Emergency Management Director Art Martynuska said. “Much of the communication difficulties we experience in no- or low-coverage areas like this will go away.”
Internet access is currently available at select locations at Duman Lake County Park, and officials said full coverage should be available “in the near future.”
Mirror Staff Writer Calem Illig is at 814-946-7535.
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