To sweeten the deal, Everhart will soon be able to expand his list of favorite "hot spots" in town—places where wireless Internet access is available—as the Toll House Hotel plans to make it available for the public to surf the web at the town plaza.

In fact, the Toll House, Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce and town officials invite the public to join them at the plaza at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 for a launch party. At that time, people with laptops that allow for wireless Internet access can test out their equipment at the plaza for the first time.

Right around the time that the hotel's management team was considering bringing Internet access to its other building down the street, the Los Gatos Opera House, those in charge learned that the town council had discussed the WiFi phenomenon—a type of wireless technology—and had decided to have private businesses lead the way in implementing WiFi hot spots.

"I don't mind being the first one to get this going," hotel manager Marie Tallman said in reference to the Toll House being the first Chamber member to offer Internet access in a public facility.

Teri Hope, owner of the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, has offered wireless Internet access the last few years at her coffeehouse and views the addition of the town plaza as a "hot spot" as "absolutely delightful."

"So many people today are looking for a substitute office, where they can function as at their business but also enjoy some amenities," she said. "The fact that it's going into the plaza is absolutely outstanding. It's a place where people can be outdoors and enjoy the ambiance and be in the heart of Los Gatos."

Mike and Amy Schwan reside in Sunnyvale, but the couple travels to Los Gatos, where Amy works.

"This would give me more reason to come here," Mike said about the free, outdoor Internet access.

For Tallman, anything businesses can do to draw clients into town is a win for all. "Everything we do just adds a little more exposure to the town," she said.

In a partnership with the town, the Toll House will pay Los Gatos­based company Firetide to install a WiFi access point at the bus shelter in the plaza that won't be visible. In return, the town will kick in about $150 to pay for town permits and ongoing electrical costs.

In the event that the Toll House chooses to discontinue offering free Internet access in the future, the town may purchase the access point from the hotel.

In addition to the town plaza, other places that visitors to the town suggested that wireless Internet access might be useful are Bachman Park and the neighborhood center.

"Parks are very attractive, because [having wireless Internet access there] allows parents who feel they really have things to catch up on to spend time with their children and still have communication," Everhart said.