Washington State Ferries (WSF) is set to initiate a pilot program for public Wi-Fi at the Bremerton terminal and the M/V Chimacum vessel. The program, driven by state legislation from the previous year, aims to explore the feasibility and costs associated with providing Wi-Fi service.
The estimated budget for this pilot ranges from $100,000 to $150,000, covering equipment and installation expenses. A spokesperson indicated that WSF is currently in the vendor procurement stage and that any future expansion would depend on legislative direction.
Currently, WSF does not offer public internet access, with past attempts in the late 2000s failing due to high costs. The upcoming pilot will assess usage rates, bandwidth consumption, and service reliability, with plans to move forward in 2026. Installation is scheduled for spring, followed by an operational phase from May to August, with findings expected by September 2026.