INDReporter

DTA adds Wi-Fi for Fall 2014

by Walter Pierce

Downtown Lafayette Unlimited announced Thursday that LUS Fiber-powered high-speed WiFi is coming to Parc International and Parc Sans Souci just in time for the commencement of the Fall 2014 concert series.

A technician with OnTrac installs a WiFi box on a lamp at Parc International Thursday afternoon.

Finally, amid all the digital traffic, we can easily text and send selfies instead of watching the band at Downtown Alive concerts. Just kidding. Well, sort of. But it's true, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited announced Thursday that LUS Fiber-powered high-speed WiFi is coming to Parc International and Parc Sans Souci just in time for the commencement of the Fall 2014 concert series, which gets under way tomorrow at Parc International with a concert by The Chee-Weez.

On Thursday afternoon technicians from LUS Fiber contractor OnTrac were installing the WiFi devices on light poles at Parc International complements of Hub City WiFi, LUS Fiber's residential WiFi service. The installation will provide benefits beyond DTA, too.

"For years, we've wanted to make WiFi publicly accessible Downtown," says DLU's Kate Durio in a release announcing the installation. "We're excited to see this happen in Lafayette so Downtown can flourish as an urban business center where workers can work outside, exchange emails from a park bench and post to social media effortlessly."

"I can't think of a better way to enhance the overall experience of Downtown Alive!, than by offering free, high-speed WiFi to participants," says LUS Director Terry Huval. "With the use of social media today, partnering with Downtown Alive! is a good fit for Lafayette's only 100 percent community-owned fiber optic network."

Here's the DTA Fall 2014 sched (and if you're noticing fewer concerts than seasons past, click here to find out why):

Sept. 5            The Chee-Weez (Rock & Roll Variety Parc International)

Sept. 12           Bandswap: Bonsoir, Catin with Gasoline Lollipops (Cajun & Blues Parc Sans Souci)

Sept. 19           Lil' Band O' Gold (Swamp Pop Parc Sans Souci)

Sept. 26           Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet  (Cajun Parc International)

Oct. 3              The Molly Ringwalds (Rock & Roll Variety Parc International)

Oct. 10             No DTA! (Festivals Acadiens)

Oct. 17             Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters (Zydeco Parc Sans Souci)

Oct. 24             Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band with Connie G. (Zydeco Parc Sans Souci)