Elon Musk's competitors claim that SpaceX's subsidy should not be funded. They reiterated that the space company's broadband-from-space is still completely unproven technology.
SANTA BARBARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying the SAOCOM 1A and ITASAT 1 satellites, as seen during a long exposure on October 7, 2018 near Santa Barbara, California. After launching the satellites, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully returned to land on solid ground near the launch site rather than at sea. The satellites will become part of a six-satellite constellation that will work in tandem with an Italian constellation known as COSMO-SkyMed.
According to Bloomberg's latest report, critics currently pressure the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Rivals from rural service providers said that the planned $886 million subsidies to the popular tech CEO's SpaceX's project, which focuses on sending broadband satellites to space to provide internet connections to underserved areas, should be denied.
The Star also reported that SpaceX already began the service and started launching satellites into space even before won a competition for the finds. Around 1,000 Starlink spaceships were launched to provide internet service to test subscribers.
Why Broadband-From-Space is criticized?
SpaceX claimed that its latest system is positioned properly and uniquely to offer high-quality broadband service to the hardest-to-reach rural areas in the United States. Although this is the case, there are still some experts that criticize the latest innovation.
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MAY 30: Spacex founder Elon Musk celebrates after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Earlier in the day NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley lifted off an inaugural flight and will be the first people since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 to be launched into space from the United States.
Elon Musk's rivals claimed that it was being built without the aid and isn't limited to rural areas. If this is true, rural areas would still have a hard time connecting to the internet since cities and other well-developed areas will share the connection.
"SpaceX's broadband-from-orbit is a completely unproven technology," said Jim Matheson, chief executive officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, via Bloomberg.
"Why use that money for a science experiment?" he added.
Possible conference to take place
Critics, including Matheson, said that they are planning to conduct a press conference regarding Elon Musk's broadband-from-space project. However, SpaceX hasn't released any statements yet regarding the issue.
Previously, Elon Musk's space company was approved for its plan to send internet connection service to 642,925 locations in 35 states. But, consumer advocates claim that these areas are parts of New York City and airports in Miami and Newark. To simplify it, these locations are allegedly not hardest-to-reach rural areas.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
