Downtown visitors this weekend can get free Wi-Fi from the Spokane HotZone as two area firms have stepped in to keep the tech service going.

Created in 2004, the Wi-Fi service area has had continuing problems due to aging equipment and reluctance by the bandwidth provider to continue offering free Internet connectivity. A recent business section story in The Spokesman Review summarized those issues.

Robin Toth, who helped launch the service when she worked for the City of Spokane, said the HotZone will be operating all weekend, during Hoopfest. She said the new zone partners will make an announcement next week about their longterm plans.

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