Harbor Commission OKs one-year Echo Wireless renewal, hears Coastal Act briefing and extends strategic-planning work group

The Harbor Commission on an April 2025 evening recommended a one-year renewal of a license with Echo Wireless to keep public Wi‑Fi in place at Santa Barbara Harbor while waterfront staff and the city IT department study whether the city should operate its own network.

The commission also received an in-depth presentation on the California Coastal Act and the City of Santa Barbara Local Coastal Program and voted to continue the strategic-planning work group for six months to concentrate on citywide leasing guidelines tied to waterfront priorities.

Cesar Barrios, waterfront business manager, told commissioners Echo Wireless USA Inc. ("Echo") has provided subscription wireless internet service in the harbor since February 2011 and that the Waterfront Department has historically treated the service as an amenity rather than a major revenue source. "The department collects a nominal monthly fee from Echo as the purpose of the WiFi service is to provide an amenity to harbor users rather than being a revenue source for the department," Barrios said.

Barrios recommended a one-year license term "while the Waterfront Department considers options for the city to establish its own WiFi network for harbor users." He said the shorter term would preserve continuity of service and give staff time to work with the city's IT department on a technical and financial evaluation. He added that the department has not yet negotiated price for the proposed one-year term and that the cost to roll out a city-run network is still undetermined.

Commission discussion centered on service quality, cost and scope. Commissioner Cohen cautioned that running a municipal Wi‑Fi network is "a highly technical undertaking" and asked whether staff felt prepared to support it. Barrios said the city would work with IT and that a municipal approach could offer a basic free tier plus optional paid higher-bandwidth tiers, similar to captive portals used in airports and hotels.

Commissioner Nelson asked who sets the current consumer fee. Barrios replied that the existing five-year lease negotiated in 2020 established the…