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The only thing separating Asbury Park beachgoers from access to free wireless internet could, in the near future, be a simple 15 second advertisement.

City manger Jack Kelly is exploring ways to bring free Wi-Fi to the beachfront modeled after what San Jose, Calif. has accomplished, he said.

“They have this super-fast Wi-Fi in a specific area in San Jose,” he said. “I would like to bring something similar to Asbury Park.”

He is exploring options to have the service provided without any cost to taxpayers, include securing a possible branding or sponsorship agreement with PepsiCo, the sole provider of beverage concessions along the boardwalk.

“Maybe before you log on you hear a 15 second Pepsi jingle,” he said.

Speculating most people wouldn’t mind spending a little extra to have free internet access, increasing beach fees by even just 25 cents is another idea, Kelly said.

“I’m not sure how we’re going to roll it out, but we’re going to try to roll it out,” he said.

The move would set a precedent, as the city would be the first to provide widespread internet access for free on the New Jersey beachfront, he said.

Additionally, Councilwoman Amy Quinn is in the midst of researching the costs to broadcast free internet access in an area along the Springwood Avenue corridor where a park is slated to be built, she said [rendering of park shown at right].

“There was a survey done by West Side Citizens United and residents on the West Side listed free Wi-Fi as something they would like to see,” Quinn said.

Once complete, the park will consist of a playground area, civic plaza, raised stage area, and a lawn panel for active recreation activities, all surrounded by a walking path.

“The long term goal is to eventually have free citywide Wi-Fi so the entire city has access to information on the internet,” Quinn said.

[Clarification: Councilwoman Amy Quinn originally told the Sun the survey conducted was specifically for the Springwood Park area, but she later contacted the Sun to say she had been informed by Frank Syphax, president of West Side Citizens United, that the survey was conducted  for an area between the Barack H. Obama School and the Middle School on Bangs Avenue, not the Springwood Avenue Park. The portion of Quinn’s quote that stated the survey was conducted for the Springwood Avenue Park area has been omitted from this version.]

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