To: Board of Directors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Monthly Subscription Services from Starlink, for Satellite Internet Services for Use During Emergencies and Disasters.
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Fire Chief, or Designee, to execute a terms of service agreement for a subcription with Starlink, including indemnity, in an amount not to exceed $144,000 to purchase hardware and ongoing monthly subscription internet services for use during emergencies and disasters, effective upon signature through November 3, 2030.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Budgeted by the CCCFPD General Fund. The estimated annual service cost is $28,800 (16 units x $150/unit/mos. x 12 mos.) and $144,000 for the 5-year term.
BACKGROUND:
The Fire District formerly had a small, portable supply of satellite phones for use during major disasters. However, this technology was high-priced and had limited features, offering only voice calls without internet access, GPS, or video capabilities.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, which may provide a reliable, high-speed internet solution that is user-friendly, rapidly deployable, and simple to manage. Its entry-level cost is significantly lower than that of traditional satellite telephone systems. Fire and emergency service agencies have widely adopted Starlink, and it is quickly becoming the industry standard for field communications.
Besides disaster response-when cellular networks might be down-Starlink can assist in establishing internet access for command posts in remote parts of the County, such as the Marsh Creek area and Morgan Territory, where other communication options are limited or nonexistent. High-quality, reliable communication systems enable incident commanders to coordinate response efforts, including requesting additional resources and initiating evacuat...
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