What Free Wireless On The Ferries?

Washington State Ferries is cancelling free WiFi and attempting to convince us that they never actually offered free WiFi - That was a beta program..that lasted for a year. Starting next month, WSF will be charging for access to the internet. WiFi Networking News has more:

They'll charge airport-like rates of $3 for 15 minutes (25 cents thereafter), $7 per 24 hour period, and $30 per month. The WSF email that announces these charges, also notes that free service will switch to paid on Nov. 20. They also point out that Opti-Fi's roaming arrangements provide no-fee access to their partners. The email inaccurately states that iPass customers will pay no additional charge; iPass customers pay for each data session, in fact, but it's at a negotiated rate.

Airport-like rates might be fine for airports, but ferry terminals and ferries seem like a completely different animal, and $30 a month for something that you've been givng away for free is pretty steep. On the other hand, since Washington has the largest ferry system in the country, there isn't really anyone else to compare prices with. B.C. ferries don't even have wireless. New York ferries have free WiFi.

It looks like it will be a whole new system installed by Parsons, and the new charges will go into effect on November 20th. Expanded service will cover "all areas of the terminals and the boats," which we assume includes the car holding pens at Colman Dock. We've seen some people wait a looong time in those lots and if they start paying $3 for every fifteen minutes... Someone's next session at Seattlest is going to cost them.

Image courtesy of mtngrlkd.