(Feb 5): The U.S. Federal Communications Commission faces pressure from rural internet service providers to deny a planned US$886 million subsidy to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for beaming broadband to underserved areas from outer space.
Even before winning a competition for the funds, SpaceX had set up its service and begun launching satellites. More than 1,000 of the Starlink craft are now aloft, providing service to test subscribers. The company says its system “is uniquely positioned to deliver high-quality broadband service to the hardest-to-reach rural Americans.”
But that hasn’t stopped complaints about it winning a competition for subsidies from the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, in part because the service was being built without the aid and isn’t limited to rural areas. The planned awards to Space Exploration Technologies Corp., as it’s formally known, and to other companies have lawmakers raising questions about the entire US$9.2 billion program.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission faces pressure from rural internet service providers to deny a planned $886 million subsidy to Elon Musk’s SpaceX…
The FCC s recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction came in below expectations and will provide money to fresh faces. President Biden will need to decide whether that s good or bad.
LTD Broadband Congratulates the FCC for Successfully Managing Broadband Auction
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By
Corey Hauer, CEO, LTD Broadband
LTD Broadband commended the Federal Communications Commission for managing a successful Phase I Rural Development Opportunity Fund auction.
FREMONT, CA: LTD Broadband commended the Federal Communications Commission for managing a successful Phase I Rural Development Opportunity Fund auction. The auction was the initial stage in offering broadband to millions of Americans who still do not have a dependable voice and high-speed internet facilities. We look forward to deploying our high-capacity, low-latency, and highly-scalable broadband network, said Corey Hauer, CEO of LTD Broadband, which secured $1.3 billion of the $9.2 billion in Phase I awards.