Free Wi-Fi available on Green

BRANFORD — Need to attend a quick Zoom meeting for some online learning or watch some YouTube videos while you’re taking care of business or picking up some coffee in Branford Center?

The town now is providing free Wi-Fi access on the Town Green, First Selectman Dan Cosgrove said Thursday; it went active about a week ago, he said.

The town has provided free Wi-Fi access for several years inside Town Hall but recently was able to extend that across the Green, using a separate system from the one the town uses for its own functions, Cosgrove said.

The town’s Information Technology department was able to do so within its current budget, at no additional cost, he said.

The amenity grew out of discussions officials and Branford business leaders had during the beginning of the coronavirus shutdown, Cosgrove said.

“Early on, after the shutdown that we’ve had, there were some email exchanges as well as Zoom meetings with a group of business leaders in the area, as well as other stakeholders,” he said. “Someone asked if it was possible to have Wi-Fi access across the Green.”

It turned out it was, using hardware mounted on the exterior of

Town Hall, he said.

“This is an opportunity to provide additional access to technology and create a new way for residents and families to visit and enjoy our beautiful town center,” Cosgrove said in a release.

“As WiFi access is becoming increasingly important for homeschooling, healthcare, remote working and entertainment, this access point will provide an additional resource for residents to stay connected,” the release said.

Cosgrove said “it’s not going through our network. It’s a truly public WiFi system.”

The wireless network will appear to users as “Bfdpublic,” the release said.