Also, #LightPollution from #StarlinkSatellites and #SpacePollution when they become obsolete!
#SpaceX Pushes States To Scrap #Fiber Plans And Redirect All #Broadband Grants To Starlink
By The Droid Guy
August 19, 2025
"The fight over America’s broadband future is heating up again, and this time SpaceX is taking direct aim at state governments. In a filing with #Louisiana’s Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, the company argued that the state’s decision to dedicate more than 90 percent of its federal broadband grants to fiber is 'wasteful and unnecessary taxpayer spending.' Instead, SpaceX insists, the money should go to its Starlink satellite network.
SpaceX vs. Fiber: Two Competing Visions
"At the heart of the dispute lies the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (#BEAD) program, a federal initiative meant to expand high-speed internet access. Under the Trump administration, rules were rewritten to favor a 'tech-neutral' approach, allowing satellite providers like SpaceX to compete more directly with traditional wired services. Louisiana’s final proposal, however, still leans heavily on fiber infrastructure.
"Louisiana intends to spend about $499 million to connect roughly 128,000 homes and businesses, the majority through a consortium of fiber providers. Starlink, in contrast, was awarded just $7.75 million to serve 10,327 locations. SpaceX argues it could have covered nearly all households for under $100 million, claiming the state ignored the new federal rules that emphasize cost efficiency.
The Case For Fiber
"State officials remain cautious about going all-in on satellites. Fiber, though more expensive to deploy, is widely considered 'future-proof' because capacity can scale dramatically as technology improves. A single fiber line can eventually deliver multi-gigabit speeds without replacing the underlying infrastructure. It’s also immune to congestion issues that plague wireless systems.
"Louisiana’s broadband office has noted concerns about Starlink’s long-term viability, pointing out challenges such as limited spectrum, susceptibility to weather, interference from trees, and capacity strain in densely populated areas. Simply put, fiber can handle the demand of tomorrow, while satellites may hit performance ceilings."
https://thedroidguy.com/spacex-pushes-states-to-scrap-fiber-plans-and-redirect-all-broadband-grants-to-starlink-1269273
Michael Porter
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