BURNSVILLE & BAKERSVILLE - - High speed Internet access from the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) is now available in parts of Yancey and Mitchell counties.

Phase one of MAIN's wireless Internet access project is now operational within a two-mile radius of both Burnsville in Yancey County and Bakersville in Mitchell County. The service will be expanded to other parts of the counties throughout the summer.

"This is a great day both for Internet users in Mitchell and Yancey and for the Mountain Area Information Network," said Wally Bowen, executive director of MAIN, which has been offering low-cost, dial-up Internet access in both counties since 1996.

Demand for the new service should be high, according to Gwen Harris, executive director of the Yancey County Economic Develop Commission and a member of MAIN's board of directors.

"It always takes a bit longer for the newest technologies to make it to rural counties like ours," Harris said. "But our economy is changing as fast, if not faster, than urban areas - manufacturing just isn't providing as many jobs as it used to. By expanding the reach of broadband to more of our residents and businesses, we'll be in a better position to create the 21st-century jobs that require high-speed Internet access."

Bill Slagle, chairman of the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners, agrees.

"This leading-edge technology has become a core need for business and industry in Mitchell County," Slagle said. "Having access to high speed wireless service will allow local business, industry and individuals great opportunities. In addition, it allows Mitchell County to continue to move forward in developing a strong foundation for economic and educational growth."

"Wireless broadband" is a cutting-edge technology that is well-designed for use in mountainous areas, said Rusty Holleman, MAIN's wireless network administrator.

"Users will be able to connect to the Internet via radio signals, which means you don't need to rely on the cable or phone company to run cables to you," Holleman said. "And the technology we're using allows those signals to 'bend' around obstacles, which helps when you're dealing with uneven terrain.

"We're on the lookout for additional sites for transmitters, and our goal is to be able to reach as many people who want service as possible," Holleman said.

MAIN will provide a variety of service levels to suit the needs of both businesses and individuals, Bowen said. Residential rates are $45 per month and $60 per month depending on the speed of the connection, which could range from six to 20 times faster than dial-up Internet access.

Commercial rates, which allow for the higher bandwidth needs of businesses, are $75 and $125 per month for speeds up to 40 times faster than Internet access over a conventional phone line.

Each wireless subscription includes extra services such as email accounts, spam and virus filtering, and space for a Web page. Details of pricing and service levels can be found at www.main.nc.us/about/joinwireless.shtml.

"Since MAIN is a nonprofit organization, our goal is to make this service as affordable as possible for our subscribers," Bowen said. "We will also offer this service at residential rates to local nonprofits with annual budgets under $50,000."

MAIN is also seeking local contractors who are interested in learning how to do wireless installations for homes and businesses.

"By relying on local contractors to handle installations, we are able to share knowledge of wireless technology with members of the counties' business community," Bowen said. Information on how to become a wireless installer is available here.

Startup funding for MAIN's wireless Internet service is provided by a grant from the N.C. Rural Internet Access Authority, which was created in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to promote the deployment of high-speed Internet access in the state's 85 rural counties.

"We are extremely grateful to the Rural Internet Access Authority for this investment," said Bowen, who estimates that the RIAA grant will make high-speed Internet access available to about 60 percent of the counties' homes and businesses.

He added that MAIN and local economic development authorities will seek additional funding to expand high-speed access throughout the counties.