[grecy]

> just roll out fiber

I worked provisioning internet for the Telco that serves basically all of Northern Canada. 33% of Canada's landmass and only 0.3% of its population.

We're not talking about cities or even towns here, we're talking about very rural customers. Have you been to rural Alaska, or Montana or Wyoming?

I have, and you drive for hours with no cell service, let alone wires in the ground.

You are seriously underestimating the expense to run fibre to each of these customers. Some of our communities it was well over $1mil per customer.

[toomuchtodo]

Indeed, satellite or long haul fixed wireless will be the only option for some locations. I have been to rural Montana and Wyoming, but not Alaska.

Customers will have to pay for their own StarLink where the FCC won’t. Perhaps we should not be subsidizing folks where it costs $1M to deliver terrestrial connectivity to you. Cheaper to pay them to move.

[grecy]

> Cheaper to pay them to move

They are not going to move. Period. I know this sounds snarky, but in all honesty if you had been to Alaska you would understand.

> Perhaps we should not be subsidizing folks where it costs $1M to deliver terrestrial connectivity to you

Or serve them with fast, reliable internet that is not terrestrial, and does not cost anything remotely close to $1M.

[trident5000]

Doesnt sound snarky at all. "paying them to move" sure does though.

[inemesitaffia]

I've seen subsidy numbers of $200k. I'm pretty sure a million is possible.