WADDINGTON -- Two North Country technology companies have teamed up to provide free wireless internet at the “Tastes & Talents of the North Country” festival during the Bassmasters Elite tournament through Sunday.

Clear Data Solutions of Waddington and Slic Network Solutions, a Nicholville Telephone company, have combined efforts to provide wireless internet throughout Whittaker Park, the base of operations for the events in Waddington, for the rest of the week.

Clear Data Solutions has an RV parked on the grounds to provide power and the wireless gear needed to broadcast the signal. Slic Network Solutions is supplying the internet circuit and the use of a bucket truck required to mount some the gear. Both businesses will have representatives on hand to provide more information to festival-goers about their respective companies.

Slic is using the opportunity to talk about what they see as a need for more true high speed internet in the North Country. There are still many areas throughout the state that do not have access to wireline broadband internet services, and even more areas that don’t have access to the speeds that fiber-optic networks can deliver.

Slic is preparing another grant application, which will be submitted on Aug. 12, seeking subsidies to help them supply many northern New York areas.

Slic says it is hoping area residents without access to wireline broadband internet will stop by the Slic booth at the festival and add their names to a list to show their support for additional fiber-optic construction.

More info: Clear Data Solutions, 528-0571, http://www.clear-data-solutions.com; Slic Network Solutions, (866) 261-7518 (Option 1 for Customer Service), http://www.slic.com.