Starlink loses out on $886 million in rural broadband subsidies
Starlink loses out on $886 million in rural broadband subsidies
The FCC decided it wouldn’t be the “best” use of limited funds.
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For an operating company that's the kiss of death. I predict Starlink will be bought by the US government and there won't be a hell of a lot of profit.
Unlikely that it'll be purchased by DoD, but death's kiss was given when Elon held satellite internet access of the Ukrainian Armed Forces hostage while they were engaged in a hot war and being supported by DoD. That's not how the Defense Industry operates. If you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound.
I can pretty much guarantee you that the Pentagon immediately started a lot of conversations with established contractors about rapidly expediting their own LEO constellations, and promising help on the regulatory side.
It may not have been immediately apparent, but it was there. It honestly wouldn't have mattered as much for the business, except for the fact that SpaceX is entirely dependent upon government contracts, and the military is a huge part of that.
He didn't hold it hostage.
He didn't turn it off, it was never on. He didn't intervene in an attack, he just did nothing.
It's even questionable if he can legally allow Ukraine to drop one on a boat and use it as a weapon, and it was against the terms of use.
The DoD failed to sign an agreement with SpaceX which left them in that awkward position. The DoD has now done so and it's a non issue now. The DoD is the one allowing all these combat uses now as it should have been from day 1
When Musk cut off Ukraine, the Pentagon informed him that they were immediately purchasing a minor controlling stake in the, currently, private company. Service to Ukraine was restored the next day.
That's how "capitalism" works apparently.
I also assume that's why NVidia did it's sudden about face and fell right in line when the generals threatened to own them the next day.
It's all just rich people getting reminded they're only rich, or alive, because the government allows them to be.
I'm honestly at a loss with trying to discern whether you just honestly don't understand the situation and how corporations/defense contractors and government work, if you're unwittingly repeating a source of intentional disinformation, or if you're actually maliciously trying to pump some counterfactual narrative.
I think it's a mixture of the first two, which is unfortunate because the word count that is required to correct all of that bad information is a lot more then I'm willing to type out on my phone screen.
So, I'll just point out you can either own a controlling interest, or a minor stake, but the two are mutually exclusive, and at no point was either on the table for purchase from the Pentagon.
Jesus, the absolute state of misinformation in your post...
I don't know that Iridium is still working. I think it's been decommissioned. But, the US military has been looking for its replacement for years. Now, they could launch their own, or buy a network. Musk not getting RUS funds and losing a thousand satellites from orbit a year makes Starlink a prime candidate.
They didn't cut off Internet to Ukraine. They had to stop the military from using it in an offensive way, which is ITAR, it wasn't even musk who pulled the plug, it was a bunch of lawyers that had to make that call.
Starlink is a defense contractor, ITAR was bullshit reasoning and not at all applicable. That's like saying Raytheon missiles can't be used to attack foreign targets, because ITAR, or even more accurately, Ukrainian munitions with American IC's or copper can't be used.
But that guy's comments about "the generals bought a minor stake the next day" is also just as full of shit.
Actually, no, his comments about generals buying stakes was actually more bullshit, because at least that ITAR garbage had mainstream traction, so I at least understand why someone would believe it.
The fuck are you talking about starlink is not a defense contractor... it's like saying Microsoft is a defense contractor because the military uses windows...ITAR was absolutely in play here...
SpaceX and Starlink are both defense contractors...
https://fortune.com/2023/12/08/spacex-arctic-military-tests-pentagon-contracts/
Microsoft is also a defense contractor...
https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-big-win-pentagon-signs-massive-1-76bn-contract/
Also, what do you think defense contractor means...? Because your example by itself, and without the other areas of defense Microsoft is engaged in, is a defense contract: providing software and services to the military.
Oh, and thanks for confirming my earlier assumptions.
Starlink was not sold or provided to Ukraine under a defense contract.... defense contractors who are labeled as such do not typically work with the public directly. You're definition of a defense contractor apparently is any company who has worked on a DOJ or DOD bid....which means basically all companies in the USA. This doesn't magically make them not have to follow civilian regulations. ITAR is in play here, just because starlink has defense contracts, doesn't magically give them a pass on other regulations.
Cereal companies get defense contracts FFS...that doesn't make them a defense contractor.
Why would working a DOJ bid make a company a defense contractor..?
JFC...you might actually need a reeducation camp, but instead of propaganda, it's just a forced repeat of K-12 education.
You do know what the NSD is right? You put your foot in your mouth...easier to take the L...
You mean the lawyers who coordinate national security related legal issues with law enforcement and intelligence? Yep, sure do, still doesn't make them part of the military.
I'd say it's easier to take the L, but I understand you lack the self-awareness of your stupidity.
Honestly, you're the clearest example of Dunning-Kruger I've seen in quite a while. For that, I'm sorry.
Forgot that DHS and the national guard aren't military....
You keep thinking that military contacts magically make a company a defense contractor and that they don't have to follow the laws...the only reason you're upset is because you are so far up the musk hate trains ass you can't disassociate yourself from it.
Musk doesn't listen to lawyers, look at everything he has done at Twitter.
You're right. He got that advice from Mohamed bin Salman.