MicroWave

Trump is forcing states to funnel grant money to Starlink, Senate Democrats say

https://lemmy.world/post/30783566

Trump is forcing states to funnel grant money to Starlink, Senate Democrats say - Lemmy.World

Overhaul of $42 billion program could delay deployment for years, Democrats warn. Senate Democrats are pleading with the Trump administration to stop delaying distribution of $42 billion in grants for construction of broadband networks in areas with poor Internet access. The Biden administration spent about three years developing rules and procedures for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) fund and then evaluating plans submitted by each US state and territory. Republicans repeatedly alleged that Democrats should have distributed the grants more quickly, but the Trump administration halted progress after taking over.

Jun 4, 2025 at 9:45amWeb
Show threadEmergency3030Jun 4, 2025
So funny, I’d not trust Elon at all.
Show threadLePoissonJun 4, 2025
This administration is really trying to fuck us all but in particular some of Trump’s most ardent supporters,
Show threadFenrirIIIJun 4, 2025
And they’ll keep licking his ass for it.
Show threadzergtoshiJun 4, 2025
Is that how you start the trickle down process?
Show threadwanderwisleyJun 4, 2025
The rich get richer and the rest of us slowly get boiled in the pot.
Show threadskozziiJun 4, 2025
Starlink is worse in every way compared to broadband, security purposes alone it should never be considered. Nothing beats a wire under the ground.
Show threadBrkdncrJun 4, 2025

You can deploy Starlink in minutes. Wired requires months.

RV lifestyle people depend on Starlink.

I wish there were better options but there aren’t.

Starlink is not worse in every way though.

Show threadPalmTreeIsBestTreeJun 4, 2025
It’s worse in that weather dictates how fast your internet is.
Show threadBrkdncrJun 4, 2025
That hasn’t been a problem for me nor most customers. I’m on video calls all day long.
Show threaddjangoJun 5, 2025
During what weather condition? I would expect hard rain or a storm to do something with the connection.
Show threadBrkdncrJun 5, 2025

Thunderstorms, dust storms.

Snow is a problem if it sticks to the antenna and the snow melt feature can’t keep up, but it’s never been a significant complaint.

The only people that complain are the ones that switched from a completely acceptable wired connection to starlink, it this service isn’t designed for them. It’s for me and all the other people that have no other usable options.

Show threaddjangoJun 5, 2025
Interesting info, thank you!
Show threadmiddlemouseJun 5, 2025

The point is that the grant money could have been used to create more acceptable wired connections, which you admit here are better.

Now the grant money is just going to starlink meaning that more people are in the same situation as you where they have no choice.

Show thread3abasJun 5, 2025

If your RV could have fiber, Starlink would be worse in every way… You stripped out the context (fiber availability).

Starlink is amazing when fiber isn’t possible. When fiber is possible, it’s cheaper in the long term and it’s in fact better in every way (latency, reliability, performance, throughout, etc).

Show threadBlameTheAntifaJun 4, 2025
Open corruption. They don’t even bother trying to hide it because there are no consequences.
Show threadTronn4Jun 4, 2025
Always heard about fiber rollout from att in my city. Been more than 10 years. Only the rich zip have gotten it. There isn’t even any rollout front those cities to the immediate surrounding communities. Zero effort from the telcos. There a more massive push for broadband through wifi.
Show threadiknowitwheniseeitJun 5, 2025
By “rich zip” you’re referring to postal codes (“zip codes” in the USA) where rich people live, right?
Show threadTronn4Jun 5, 2025
Yes sir
Show threadAkasazhJun 5, 2025
I wonder what their recent hissy fit will do to this grant