Oct. 13--AUGUSTA -- Something is in the air in downtown Augusta.

You can't see it, smell it or, without a computer, even know it's there.

But a wireless-enabled laptop computer knows what it is, and how to find it.

The city's new high-speed wireless Internet system is free for the first 50 businesses that sign up, free to visitors, and available to downtown residents for a fee.

City officials believe Augusta is one of the first cities in the country to provide free Wi-Fi use for businesses.

The service is intended to attract businesses, visitors and residents downtown -- and help keep them there.

"We use it. I think it's incredible, I'm a big fan of it," said Frank Coco, co-owner, with his brother, Anthony, of Visage Salon & Day Spa on Water Street. "Some people thought it was a lot of money for the city to spend, but it's a great asset to our business and new businesses coming in.

"It's sad to see a beautiful downtown like this struggle and have these empty storefronts. So I applaud the city and am hoping the city continues doing things like this to bring the downtown back."

The Wi-Fi signal is available within most of the waterfront territory, from approximately Hartford Fire Station to Edwards Mill Park. It also travels across the river to, for example, Augusta City Center.

Development Director Michael Duguay said six transmitters were installed to provide a signal throughout the downtown. The city is contracting with RedZone Wireless, of Rockland, to provide the service.

"It's something we should be very, very proud of," Duguay said. "Not many other communities in the United States are doing this."

The city paid about $44,000 to have the system installed and signed a three-year contract for the service, at a cost of $12,000 to $14,000 a year, Duguay said.

Mayor Roger Katz noted the city paid for the system using proceeds from the city's Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, downtown district.

TIFs allow municipalities to reinvest property taxes paid on new development within a district on infrastructure projects.

Katz estimated, due to the advantages of using a TIF, the $44,000 really cost the city more like $25,000.

Patrick Quigg, owner of the Riverfront BBQ and Grille, said his business uses the Wi-Fi service, and he also sees customers using it on their laptops while at the restaurant.

"I've noticed guests that will come in and actually have lunch and then stay another two or three hours, doing work on their laptop," Quigg said. "That's good for business.

"It's an extremely fast connection. It's faster than my cable at home.