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SpaceX appeals FCC denial of rural broadband subsidies

SpaceX on Friday challenged the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) denial of an $885.5 million rural broadband subsidy to the space company’s satellite internet unit, and in a regulatory filing, SpaceX said this It said the move was “flawed” and “grossly unfair.”
The FCC rejected billionaire Elon Musk’s applications from SpaceX and LTD Broadband last month. This funding was awarded to him in 2020 on an interim basis under the Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Regions of the United States with little or no internet connectivity.
“This decision appears to have been made on the basis of a clear prejudice against fiber, rather than a decision based on the merits of actually connecting underserved Americans,” said SpaceX’s satellite policy statement. Senior director David Goldman wrote in a scathing appeal filed on Friday, Reuters reported.
The FCC declined to comment.
SpaceX’s Starlink, a rapidly growing network of more than 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, has tens of thousands of users in the United States so far, with consumers spending at least $599 on user terminals. , paying $110 a month for the service.
FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the denial in August, saying Starlink’s technology “has real potential” but failed to meet the program’s requirements, and speed has steadily increased over the past year. Citing data that showed it was declining, he said the services were overpriced. consumer.
Under this program, SpaceX aimed to provide 100/20 Mbps service to 642,925 locations in 35 states. In its appeal, the company said the FCC had misjudged Starlink’s performance.
In a statement last month, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr opposed the FCC’s decision and criticized the FCC for denying funds without a full committee vote.
“I want to be clear, this is a decision to tell families in states across the country that they should wait on the other side of the digital divide,” Carr said.

https://financialtribune.com/articles/sci-tech/115162/spacex-appeals-fcc-rejection-of-rural-broadband-subsidies SpaceX appeals FCC denial of rural broadband subsidies

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