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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,897 posts)
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 12:59 PM Aug 2022

FCC rescinds nearly $1 billion in Space X subsidies for rural broadband

Source: The Hill

TECHNOLOGY

FCC rescinds nearly $1 billion in Space X subsidies for rural broadband

BY OLAFIMIHAN OSHIN - 08/11/22 12:20 PM ET

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rescinded nearly $1 billion in rural broadband subsidies to Space X‘s Starlink satellite service. ... In a news release, the agency said that it determined that applications from Space X and another firm, LTD Broadband, failed to meet the requirements for government funding for its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program.

The FCC previously awarded Space X nearly $886 million in 2020 in an effort to expand high-speed internet access to rural areas through its Starlink satellite service.

The agency also awarded LTD Broadband $1.32 billion for the same purpose, but the Las Vegas-based business struggled to expand its service, failing to receive eligible telecommunications carrier status in seven of fifteen states.

“After careful legal, technical, and policy review, we are rejecting these applications. Consumers deserve reliable and affordable high-speed broadband,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement on Wednesday.

{snip}

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3597137-fcc-rescinds-nearly-1-billion-in-space-x-subsidies-for-rural-broadband/

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Raster

(20,996 posts)
1. Good! Time for Musk to deliver more than Blather, Bluster and Bullshit!
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:17 PM
Aug 2022

He and his companies have already sucked off the US tit for far too long.

niyad

(112,435 posts)
2. but. . .how is musk going to provide non-hackable, military-controlled
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:20 PM
Aug 2022

communications without all that lovely money from the feds (the feds he is supposedly going to oust from telecommunications)?

(for those not familiar with this little bit from whackworld, musk has built and will have the military run, our entire telecommunications and energy networks. The changeover is due to happen any day now. We are getting close. Of course, the fact that they have been saying this for two years now is irrelevant.)

BComplex

(7,982 posts)
3. What's this about: "failing to receive eligible telecommunications carrier status"
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:36 PM
Aug 2022

How is this possible, and whose job is it to bestow eligibility for telecommunications carrier status?

mahatmakanejeeves

(56,897 posts)
5. Telecommunications carrier status
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:45 PM
Aug 2022
Join Lifeline as an ETC

Eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs, or service providers) can offer a discount to eligible low-income consumers on their mobile or fixed (i.e., landline) voice service or broadband (i.e., internet) service and receive a reimbursement from the federal universal service fund.

To offer Lifeline-supported services, service providers must:

1. Become an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC)
2. Create a Compliance Plan
3. Obtain a Study Area Code (SAC)
4. Obtain a 498 ID

1. Become an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC)
To participate in the Lifeline program, service providers must be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) by their respective state regulatory commission or, in some cases, by the FCC. After receiving the designation, ETCs must meet all Lifeline requirements.

snip}

BumRushDaShow

(127,312 posts)
11. That is regulated by each state's Utility Commission
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 02:11 PM
Aug 2022

(or whatever a state calls them)

Telecomm is considered a "utility" but since it crosses a border, the Feds have overall monitoring/regulation and state Commisions have to ensure the provider complies with this within their state - 47 CFR § 54.201 - Definition of eligible telecommunications carriers, generally

And from a state's perspective, there are many infrastructure issues that have to be worked out (easements/right of way/signal interference, etc), and apparently they were unable to comply with the requirements in some of the states that they were being subsidized to cover - I think in some cases, due to an already-saturated (signal-wise) area.

Lonestarblue

(9,880 posts)
9. I wonder how much secret kickback Trump got for awarding that contract.
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:53 PM
Aug 2022

I doubt there was much of anything that was above board in his administration.

truthisfreedom

(23,113 posts)
8. I'm extremely rural and only Starlink works here.
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 01:52 PM
Aug 2022

I get speeds up to 50mb/s. It’s great service, only interrupted by heavy storms. Much better than Dish, which I had before.

Initech

(99,915 posts)
13. I have Spectrum which blows serious amounts of ass.
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 02:40 PM
Aug 2022

I would give an arm and a leg to get another carrier where I live. Someone, anyone. Verizon, Google Fiber, someone else.

lonely bird

(1,642 posts)
15. I'm rural but not super rural
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 04:54 PM
Aug 2022

There are towns 4-5 miles away. We tried some sort of satellite thing with ATT when moved. They said “well, there should be good signal out by the street”. Kicked them to the curb for Spectrum. The internet has been fine. The TV is ass.

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