SpaceX blasts FCC as it refuses to reinstate Starlink’s $886 million grant::FCC doubts ability to provide high-speed, low-latency service in all grant areas.

  • @Rapidcreek
    link
    English
    -261 year ago

    No. They were paid to provide services, which is what they did/do. The rural customers pay no more than urban customers but use a hell of a lot lot more infrastructure. Broadband is now a service that can be used for RUS, that’s all.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          13
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          I have friends who live within a handful of miles of DC with ZERO wired infrastructure. Fortunately that part of the US is pretty flat, and an LTE provider decided to cover the area.

          Mind, they’re about 1 mile from a major highway, so it’s not like they’re in the back woods.

          The cable company was paid to build to that area 40 years ago, but never did it.

          I agree building out wired infrastructure seems to make the most sense, as it’s pretty robust, and we’re often finding new ways to increase effective bandwidth (even on good old telephone wires). But it’s a bit of chicken and egg, like any network infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, bridges, etc).

          Edit: Keep in mind over 60% of the US population resides on the East Coast, between Boston and Georgia. So building infrastructure there is high bang for the buck.

          • @Rapidcreek
            link
            English
            -41 year ago

            At one time, I reviewed the entire telecom operations structure in DC in as a vendor conditioning exercise. Considering what DC has, I’m very surprised. If the wired network is far enough away, a digital line isn’t viable. But, roads are usually covered for mobile phone. I would see if the local mobile operators, like Verizon, might have 5G available.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      171 year ago

      RUS

      Just so we’re clear, the discussion here is not about RUS, but the Rural Broadband Initiative. ISPs were paid billions to bring broadband services to the countryside. They took the money and did nothing with it.

      • @Rapidcreek
        link
        English
        -151 year ago

        Rural Utility Service is the government body where the initiative exists. Hard to bring a true broadband to rural areas. For any decent customer penetration you need radio. IDK, but I think 5G qualifies if there isn’t a range problem.

        • @HerrBeter
          link
          English
          21 year ago

          Sweden got fiber to small communities and towns 20 years ago

          • @Rapidcreek
            link
            English
            -21 year ago

            Sweden is a much smaller country.

            • @HerrBeter
              link
              English
              21 year ago

              And there is a lot more people living in the US