Internet connection on state ferries will soon cost you

While waiting in line to get on a state ferry you can go on-line, but soon it won't be free.

Free Internet service on Washington State Ferries, in place for nearly two years, will come to an end this month.

The ferries have contracted with Parsons Transportation Group, from California, to provide Internet access on the state ferries for $29.95 a month.

Service had been free, financed by a $775,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration, awarded to Mobilisa, Inc., a Port Townsend company, to test wireless technology on the ferries.

State ferries spokeswoman Susan Harris said while the new service will cost users, it offers a significant improvement. Under Mobilsa, users could only sign-on on the passenger deck, but the new system will allow them to use wireless technology in the ferry terminals and waiting in line for the boats.

Service will begin Nov. 20 on the Bainbridge-Seattle and Edmonds-Kingston routes, followed in December by Mukilteo-Clinton and Bremerton-Seattle, two routes that haven't had wireless service.

The rest of the ferry routes will be wired early next year.

It's not certain how many riders will use the service, but 8,000 signed up when it was free. In addition to the monthly rate, it will cost $6.95 for 24-hours service and 15 minutes will cost $2.95, with 25 cents for each additional minute.

Harris said customers who have data accounts with Sprint, iPass or T-Mobile will be able to use the service for free.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com