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Its a one time fee. If you live somewhere that internet is basically unavailable other than shit DSL or dialup in the modern world this is a lifeline. It also shows how fucking useless all of the "digital" initiatives that the gov has been trying to do since the Clinton era. I know plenty of people that are only about 8 miles out of a decent sized city and they can't get internet as good as starlink even with all of the bullshit useless grants that keep getting passed. The clintons alone gave the ISP's something like $58 BILLION in tax credits/incentives/etc back in the 90's-2000's and fuck all was done.

Archive: https://archive.today/ZNC3q

From the post:

>New Starlink customers have to pay a $100 "congestion charge" in areas where the satellite broadband network has limited capacity. "In areas with network congestion, there is an additional one-time charge to purchase Starlink Residential services," a Starlink FAQ says. "This fee will only apply if you are purchasing or activating a new service plan. If you change your Service address or Service Plan at a later date, you may be charged the congestion fee."

Its a one time fee. If you live somewhere that internet is basically unavailable other than shit DSL or dialup in the modern world this is a lifeline. It also shows how fucking useless all of the "digital" initiatives that the gov has been trying to do since the Clinton era. I know plenty of people that are only about 8 miles out of a decent sized city and they can't get internet as good as starlink even with all of the bullshit useless grants that keep getting passed. The clintons alone gave the ISP's something like $58 BILLION in tax credits/incentives/etc back in the 90's-2000's and fuck all was done. Archive: https://archive.today/ZNC3q From the post: >>New Starlink customers have to pay a $100 "congestion charge" in areas where the satellite broadband network has limited capacity. "In areas with network congestion, there is an additional one-time charge to purchase Starlink Residential services," a Starlink FAQ says. "This fee will only apply if you are purchasing or activating a new service plan. If you change your Service address or Service Plan at a later date, you may be charged the congestion fee."

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[–] • 1 pt

Would you really? Have you ever tried to extend internet coverage in the USA? You sound like a 400lb guy armchair quarterbacking a professional sport he couldnt even play a neighborhood "for funsies" game of.

It's a regulatory clusterfrack where:

1) The incumbent telcos have already received billions in subsidies to "expand broadband availability". Which you arent eligible for because they "already cover that area" (poorly).

2) You have to compete on price with incumbents who already paid for their infrastructure.

3) You have to market to a hostile customer base who assume you're just as bad as incumbents.

4) Terrestrial buildout requires years of red tape for every city, county, and state you cover. And then you have to roll a truck to every house you want to cover.

5) Orbital buildout requires overcoming multiple massive technical challenges AND fronting billions in Capex before you see $1 of revenue.

[–] • 0 pt

Would you really? Have you ever tried to extend internet coverage in the USA?

yes

You have to compete on price with incumbents who already paid for their infrastructure.

Do you know how many companies place fibers next to other companies? if your statement was true that wouldn't happen. I've counted 10+ different fiber companies on one side of the road before.

You have to market to a hostile customer base who assume you're just as bad as incumbents.

That's not true, customers are usually very excited to get faster internet.

Terrestrial buildout requires years of red tape for every city, county, and state you cover. And then you have to roll a truck to every house you want to cover.

Cities cannot stop you from placing communications lines if you meet all the requirements. FCC regulations and such. You wouldn't need to go to everyhouse because wisps are very good at covering large remote areas.

Orbital buildout requires overcoming multiple massive technical challenges AND fronting billions in Capex before you see $1 of revenue.

Sounds like utilizing technology that required a lot of research that the taxpayer paid for. Every one of faggot musks companies have received billions of taxpayer dollars. So I stand by my comment that I could do it better, cheaper and decentralized.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

Do you know how many companies place fibers next to other companies?

Not many. Boring to run last mile fiber is so cost-prohibitive that the first company to do it is usually the only one...and then only in ritzy sub-divisions. It's cost prohibitive in rural areas. Aerial fiber is more cost effective IF you can get pole access...thst varies dramatically depending on where you're at.

That's not true, customers are usually very excited to get faster internet.

I dont measure excitement in words, I measure excitement in willingness to pay comeasurate to the cost of delivering service. Saying they're "excited" about it is up there with claiming people are "excited" with paying the 50% cost differential to fly first class. Is it better? Yes. What percentage of people are willing to pay for it? 1-2%. Rural internet excitement is better, but only 10% or so.

Cities cannot stop you from placing communications lines if you meet all the requirements

They can, however, make the requirements prohibitive to almost anyone who isnt an incumbent telco.

wisps are very good at covering large remote areas.

Unless you have trees, hills, or basically anything but the terrain of Kansas.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

They intentionally sabotage one thing while promoting the other and you are simply parroting the pied piper. musk is using dynamic wisp. All the regulations you talk about with cities while completely ignoring the elephant in the room known as the FAA. So hanging a wire on a pole is more of a burden than launching computers into space, got it. It's about control and people with opinions like yours are the ones bringing it forward with a spoonful of sugar. Name one thing musk does that doesn't benefit globalist in a major way.

I can argue facts about "last mile". How much per foot to hang strand? Do you actually know? Drop installation, do you actually know? It seems like you don't. "Ritzy subdivisions" pay for it to be installed. Just like you can pay to have a mile of strand placed to your bumfuck nowhere cabin. Your kidding yourself if you think musk is spending money launching satellites into space so you can have internet in your shack.

Creating a global satellite surveillance network under guise of bringing internet to rural people is the name of the game you're hip to. Good for you.

E: I'd also argue had the government actually used the billions for rural fiber, musk wouldn't have a big enough market to make "starlink" viable. Hence why they sat on it.