BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) — Elon Musk wants to ask U.S. regulators for $886 million ($6 billion) in subsidies to provide broadband services to rural areas via its SpaceX satellites. However, the request was denied by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
▲ SpaceX launches Starlink Internet satellite
Funding Musk’s Starlink satellite network is not the best use of limited broadband subsidies, the FCC said Wednesday. “Starlink’s technology is really promising, but the question before us is whether to use nearly $900 million in universal service funds to publicly subsidize until 2032 this still-developing consumer broadband technology, which requires users to purchase a $600 receiver.” FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel (Jessica Rosenworcel) said in a statement.
“The FCC cannot afford to fund companies that cannot deliver on the speed they have committed to or are unlikely to meet the requirements of the program,” Rosenworcel said.
