SpaceX says states should dump fiber plans, give all grant money to
Starlink

SpaceX seeks more cash, calls fiber "wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer spending."
...
...
The Trump administration rewrote rules for the $42 billion Broadband
Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program in a way that
benefits Starlink. Instead of prioritizing fiber networks that offer
better service and are more future-proof, the Trump administration
ordered states to revise their plans with a "tech-neutral approach"
and lower the average cost of serving each location.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/starlink-keeps-trying-to-block-fiber-deployment-says-us-must-nix-louisiana-plan/

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On 8/20/2025 8:44 PM, JAB wrote:

SpaceX says states should dump fiber plans, give all grant money to Starlink

SpaceX seeks more cash, calls fiber "wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer spending."
...
...
The Trump administration rewrote rules for the $42 billion Broadband
Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant program in a way that
benefits Starlink. Instead of prioritizing fiber networks that offer
better service and are more future-proof, the Trump administration
ordered states to revise their plans with a "tech-neutral approach"
and lower the average cost of serving each location.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/starlink-keeps-trying-to-block-fiber-deployment-says-us-must-nix-louisiana-plan/

That's a shame, more satellites to block stargazer's view at night.
Fiber is a much more solid connection than any satellite service.

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On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:16:16 -0400, Michael Trew
<[email protected]> wrote:

more satellites

Cronyism and sat users are dependent upon Starlink sending up
more/more sats.

Fiber/WISPs installations employs humans, and puts money into
local/regional areas.

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On 8/21/2025 5:35 PM, JAB wrote:

On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:16:16 -0400, Michael Trew
<[email protected]> wrote:

more satellites

Cronyism and sat users are dependent upon Starlink sending up
more/more sats.

Fiber/WISPs installations employs humans, and puts money into
local/regional areas.

The push against fiber is infrastructure cost. Unless it's an urban
area, they don't want to bother to lay or hang fiber.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:12:23 -0400, Michael Trew
<[email protected]> wrote:

Fiber/WISPs installations employs humans, and puts money into
local/regional areas.

The push against fiber is infrastructure cost. Unless it's an urban
area, they don't want to bother to lay or hang fiber.

Well yeah, same thing with rural electricity and telephone
services....those companies then didn't want to serve rural
folks...profits are within urban areas

Years ago, UPS was an interstate carrier where I lived, but not an
intrastate carrier. UPS wanted intrastate business, and state
legislators said yes, but you have to deliver to rural folks. No
package carrier wants to deliver to rural folks.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:12:23 -0400
Michael Trew <[email protected]> wrote:

On 8/21/2025 5:35 PM, JAB wrote:

On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:16:16 -0400, Michael Trew
<[email protected]> wrote:

more satellites

Cronyism and sat users are dependent upon Starlink sending up
more/more sats.

Fiber/WISPs installations employs humans, and puts money into local/regional areas.

The push against fiber is infrastructure cost. Unless it's an urban
area, they don't want to bother to lay or hang fiber.

I honestly believe the near-term solution is more cell towers.
T-Mobile offers a 5G home internet connection that works on its cell technology. It's pretty darned good. Compare the cost of T-Mobile
putting up a tower to AT&T having to trench every street in the
neighborhood - mobile has the advantage.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:12:23 -0400, Michael Trew
<[email protected]> wrote:

The push against fiber is infrastructure cost.

Uncle Sam historically has put funding into many different projects,
from R&D to highways, etc.

Musk has been seeking and getting government 'handouts' in various
ways. And for his Starlink, for several years, or more, he has wanted
to obtain a piece of this action.

No "push" here, just cronyism.

Fiber plans tend to be much cheaper than Starlink, and long term,
fiber is reliable. Environmentally, Starlink's sats are another
source of air and light pollution.

Oh, those companies installing fiber do pay taxes, and increase
employment from workers who pay taxes. Also, those companies buy equipment/products from other companies. This is a plus for the
economy, and employment.

Do the economic spreadsheet....when fiber is installed, Uncle Sam gets
a return on his investment. Not so much with Starlink.

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