Seal Beach pilots Starlink satellite backup for emergency communications

The Seal Beach City Council received an informational briefing Feb. 9 on a five‑year plan to evaluate Starlink satellite service as redundant internet for city operations, public safety and field command posts.

Sergeant Brian Gray, who is coordinating the pilot, said the city has entered Year 1 and received three Starlink Mini units for mobile testing at multiple sites. "We are evaluating Starlink satellite internet as a reliable backup for both fixed facilities and city vehicles when landline and cellular infrastructure is impacted," he said, describing Minis as compact, DC‑powered units suited for vehicles and larger standard dishes for fixed sites.

Gray outlined operational goals: enable Wi‑Fi calling and Voice over IP on city phones when cellular service is unavailable, preserve access to emergency software and cloud tools in affected areas, and support EOC and field command functions. The plan pairs hardware with site‑appropriate subscriptions; Gray told council the program will move from pilot testing to facility installations in Year 2 and then broader mobile deployment in Years 4–5.

Council members asked about security and costs. Staff said the expense model separates upfront hardware purchases from recurring subscription fees and that subscription tiers vary by expected usage. A late‑meeting figure discussed by staff for a full multi‑year subscription scenario was mentioned in the presentation materials; staff committed to clarifying subscription tiering and per‑unit costs during follow up.

The item was informational; no procurement or authorization was requested or approved at the Feb. 9 meeting.