Summary

Senate Democrats accused the Trump administration of stalling $42 billion in broadband grants and redirecting funds toward Elon Musk’s Starlink by overturning Biden-era rules favoring fiber networks.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s “tech-neutral” policy prioritizes cost over quality, potentially sidelining more reliable fiber infrastructure.

A May 30 letter warned delays could push projects back two years.

Trump also scrapped a separate $2.75 billion Digital Equity program, calling it “racist and illegal.” Critics say the moves undermine broadband expansion in rural and underserved communities.

  • skozzii@lemmy.ca
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    3 days ago

    Starlink is worse in every way compared to broadband, security purposes alone it should never be considered. Nothing beats a wire under the ground.

    • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      You can deploy Starlink in minutes. Wired requires months.

      RV lifestyle people depend on Starlink.

      I wish there were better options but there aren’t.

      Starlink is not worse in every way though.

      • 3abas@lemm.ee
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        3 days ago

        If your RV could have fiber, Starlink would be worse in every way… You stripped out the context (fiber availability).

        Starlink is amazing when fiber isn’t possible. When fiber is possible, it’s cheaper in the long term and it’s in fact better in every way (latency, reliability, performance, throughout, etc).

        • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          That hasn’t been a problem for me nor most customers. I’m on video calls all day long.