FCC Denies SpaceX's Appeal for $886M Rural Broadband Grant

Elon Musk Criticizes Decision as 'Unethical and Politically Partisan', While Other Government Entities Continue to Contract Starlink

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rejected SpaceX's appeal to reinstate an $886 million grant to bring high-speed broadband to rural areas using Starlink satellites.
The FCC stated that SpaceX's Starlink failed to demonstrate its ability to deliver the service it promised in 2020, leading to the denial of the rural broadband subsidies.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk criticized the FCC's decision as 'extremely unethical and politically partisan,' arguing that Starlink is the only company solving rural broadband at scale.
The FCC's decision has been criticized by Republican FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington, who allege that the decision was politically motivated and part of a larger pattern of administrative action against Musk's businesses.
Despite the FCC's decision, other components of the federal government are entering into multimillion dollar contracts with Starlink for high-speed connectivity for military operations and other uses.