US lawmakers dig into FCC's $900M Starlink snub in wake of Hurricane Helene
- Reference: 1728394230
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/10/08/fcc_starlink_subsidies_probe/
- Source link:
[1]Comer's probe comes after Starlink was pressed into service in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc in North Carolina. In his letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Comer wrote: "The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene – and the millions of Americans stranded without cell service or power – illustrates the importance of expanding broadband access to rural areas and using innovative technologies to do so."
The FCC awarded Starlink $885.5 million in subsidies in 2020 after SpaceX began trialing the satellite constellation network service. In 2022, the FCC [2]reversed its decision . Rosenworcel acknowledged the system's merits, but said in a statement: "The question before us was whether to publicly subsidize its still developing technology for consumer broadband."
[3]
The rejection was [4]reaffirmed in 2023 . However, SpaceX boss Elon Musk is still smarting, and recently used his social media mouthpiece, X, to [5]claim : "Had the FCC not illegally revoked the SpaceX Starlink award, it would probably have saved lives in North Carolina."
[6]SpaceX accuses 'meme-stock' rival of 'misinformation' over Starlink signals waiver
[7]Musk's Starlink rockets to 4 million subscribers
[8]Starlink-branded hardware reportedly found amid wreckage of downed Russian drone
[9]Starlink's new satellites emit 30x more radio interference than before, drowning cosmic signals
The FCC has [10]given temporary approval to enable Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability to provide coverage for cell phones in the affected areas of Hurricane Helene. Since the direct-to-cell constellation is still under construction, SpaceX warned that "all services will be delivered on a best-effort basis."
In support of the investigation, Comer has requested all documentation regarding Starlink's application, the decision to award broadband subsidies, and the subsequent decision to pull the award. Comer has also requested "all documents and communications between FCC personnel regarding Elon Musk, the acquisition of X (formerly known as Twitter), and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (or SpaceX), and Starlink, between December 2020 and the present."
[11]
Comer noted that not all FCC commissioners agreed with the reversal decision. He gave the example of Brendan Carr arguing that the FCC had joined a "growing list of administrative agencies that are taking action against Elon Musk's businesses" and stated that "the FCC must ground its decision-making in law and not politics." ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-probes-fcc-decision-to-revoke-starlink-funds/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/11/fcc_starlink_rural_internet/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZwVXIR54Ytz0ztFCF7XgdgAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/14/fcc_starlink_spacex/
[5] https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1841533475414749383
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/04/spacex_ast_spacemobile_dispute/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/27/starlink_subscribers_top_four_million/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/27/starlink_drone_russia_ukraine/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/19/starlinks_spacex_satellites_radio_interference/
[10] https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1842988427777605683
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZwVXIR54Ytz0ztFCF7XgdgAAABQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
I’m sorry, your TDS must be very painful.
Trump Devotion Syndrome is worse.
Of course he is, Comer would investigate road kill if he though he could turn it into political hackery or benefit one of Trump's lackeys.
I thought he would investigate road kill if it was thought to be a suitable replacement for Trump's toupée!
What?
You're telling me it's not road kill? Doh, there I go believing fake news again...
Re: What?
I hink it is really a Merkin
Elon Musk Subsidy Whore strikes again
Elon Musk Subsidy Whore strikes again, how else do you get rich if it wasn't by collecting huge wads of tax dollars?
HughesNet, another satellite internet provider, did not have their application revoked, despite significantly worse performance.
You'd think that anyone with half a brain could understand that providing wired internet access to very rural locations in the US (where even wired phone lines are rare) would be hugely expensive in the initial deployment (poles, ducts, wires and fibre) but also susceptible to natural forces damaging that infrastructure.
Rural California has learned the lesson when unmaintained PG&E high voltage overhead wires started a huge wildfire.
The $42B Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program was essentially DC pork to the legacy wired carriers to line their own pockets and give kickbacks to the political class. From all accounts the programme has been a complete white elephant and has failed to deliver (as most large govt programmes do) as the carriers are all whinging about costs and 'its too hard to run wires here'.
The US govt 'worry' about monopolistic behaviour but are happy when areas have only a single wired phone/internet provider.
Comer is a clown. That guy "investigates" anything he thinks he can pin on Democrats. He's a poster child for party over country
Not commenting on the original decision either way, however Musks reaction to the original revocation is straight out of the Trump handbook.
What with his grovelling, and the insane jumping behind the podium, he's nothing more than a Trump simp.