[justin66]

The FCC is quoted in the article as indicating Starlink would require rural customers to purchase a $600 dish to start service. That's fine, but what the heck do they need $900M for if they're not subsidizing that equipment cost? Their satellites will be flying overhead anyway. Normally when the federal government throws gobs of money at internet providers it's in the name of building out physical infrastructure. (on some occasions it even gets built) Here... it's for what?

> House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican, asked the FCC in a letter Monday to turn over documents by Oct. 21 on the decision. The committee seeks to ensure the FCC "followed established processes and is not improperly using the regulatory process for political purposes."

There's a potential for comedy here, at least. James Comer, for people who aren't familiar, makes the Alaskan senator who once compared the internet to "a series of tubes" look like Isaac Newton by comparison.

[josefritzishere]

The 900M was earmarked to build infastructure as any terestrial ISP would have had to construction costs to build out services. For Starlink it would basically be money for nothing. A planned program to give consumers free routers and dishes would not even necessarily ISP-facing. That could be done directly with consumers either as tax credits, or the like.

[inemesitaffia]

You're mistaken.

RDOF in particular required installation and battery backup.

It's not money for nothing and ground stations aren't free.

The plan was to deliver a free to the customer bundle with telephony

[inemesitaffia]

These plans are delivered to the ends user free of charge, including installation and battery backup.

No one's states that in their application because it's a given so this $600 nonsense is misplaced.

And there's other middle mile infrastructure