COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – More Council Bluffs residents now have free access to outdoor wireless Internet. The Daily Nonpareil reports the Council Bluffs Area Wi-Fi Consortium launched the Bluffs Community Wi-Fi network Thursday. Residents can connect to the Internet by searching for the “BLink” network in the wireless settings on their device and accepting the terms and conditions. No password is needed.

The consortium is a cooperative organization between the school district and the city. The school district’s Chief Technology Officer David Fringer said its goal is to bring as much free Wi-Fi to Council Bluffs as possible to encourage teaching and learning in the community.

Access to BLink Wi-Fi is available in an area around Wilson Middle School. The second phase of the project will expand west between I-29 and U.S. Route 6. Public Wi-Fi is already available downtown.