GOP Wants Musk's Starlink to Get a Cut of $42 Billion Biden Internet Plan

[speak easy]

Source: Bloomberg

SpaceX was mostly cut out of plan to expand broadband access
Ted Cruz leading effort to end ‘extreme bias’ for fiber cable

When President Joe Biden put $42 billion behind making high-speed internet accessible across the US, he committed to doing it the old-fashioned way – with miles upon miles of fiber-optic lines.

That frustrated Elon Musk, who said his Starlink satellite-internet business could get rural areas online faster, at lower cost. Biden’s decision helped drive a wedge between the Democratic president and the world’s richest person, who later used his wealth to help return Donald Trump to the White House

Now, some Republicans want to open the floodgates for Starlink to compete with fiber, potentially shifting billions to Musk.

Lawmakers like Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz have decried the plan’s labor and climate regulations and what they see as an “extreme bias” against newer technology. “It blocked innovative and simpler wireless and satellite options, burdened taxpayers with billions in waste, and prioritized bureaucratic mandates over results,” said Cruz. SpaceX opened a factory in 2023 in Bastrop, Texas, that company officials say can make millions of Starlink terminals each year.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-26/elon-musk-s-starlink-gets-gop-backing-for-42-billion-broadband-program

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

1. Only a cut? Can't imagine Elon being satisfied

with a mere piece.

[patphil]

2. No conflict of interest there.

This guy expects to be the world's first trillionaire, and he's in a position to make that happen.
He already has billions of dollars in contracts with the military, and now he can add billions more through the civilian agencies.

And then there are the huge tax cuts that he's facilitating by brutalizing federal agencies and workers so he and Trump can make it look like the government is saving a whole lot of money, but then piss away the savings by giving it to the super rich.

The Magats still don't get it. To help them understand I suggest they turn around, drop their pants, and wait for the Musk/Trump presidency to give them their reward.

[HereonAddict]

3. And put Musk at the switch

Free to turn service off or on as he pleases.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. Fiber cable's a shitload better that sattelite