Wi-Fi will be available for free roughly within the area bounded by Jackson Boulevard on the north, Marion Street on the south, Junior Achievement Drive on the east and Main Street on the west.

To make the city's connection easier, INOVA Credit Union is essentially letting the city tap into its wireless connection through a base station on the roof of the company's corporate office along Elkhart Avenue.

"It would be $100,000 to $150,000 conservatively to provide this service to the people," said Councilman Jim Pettit, R-1st.

INOVA, said Joy Willett, director of administration, also will cover the $500 connection fee and a $50 monthly user fee, saving Elkhart that cost.

Council members said Monday they hope downtown merchants, as well as students at Indiana University South Bend's new Elkhart Center, will use the service.

Willett said the city will make public how far the Wi-Fi service will extend, and which businesses fall inside those boundaries, once the final plan is laid out.