Starlink Naysayers

 I have to say I am a bit perplexed about the amount of naysayers out there when it comes to Starlink.  One of my concerns is I have found at least 3 organizations that have commented negatively, and their organizations purposes for being is rural broadband.  They should be excited about another option available, but they aren't.  

We have to remember this program is in the beta stage, and Starlink has been rather closed lipped about how it will progress.  Their goals in mind?  We have heard them speak about.  

Below is an example email potential participates of the "Better than Nothing Beta' program are sent:

The Title they refer to in the first sentence is "Better Than Nothing Beta".

Here is the latest article, "Mainers using Elon Musk’s satellite internet say it’s no silver bullet for rural access"

The title alone makes you scratch your head.  They do know what a beta program is right?

There is a potential negative side effect to Starlink as the state tries to bridge the digital divide, Schaffer said. In a poorer area, for example, if people who can afford the service sign up, other companies might find it difficult to expand because there won’t be enough demand for their service.

“Starlink has the potential to make it much harder to build out networks,” she said. “It’s a huge equity question of how to bring the networks to people who can’t afford service but still need connections.  -Peggy Schaffer, executive director of the ConnectME Authority”

Schaffer works for an organization that allegedly helps to find ways of to bring broadband to rural areas.  She has Satellite service at her second home, and so she should know the offerings now aren't all that affordable.  If she was satisfied with the service why did she try out Starlink?  There would be no reason too.

Also, 'other companies' have been getting government grants to expand rural broadband for years now.  If they had to be accountable for where those funds went to?  We might have seen some groundwork made in this area, but they don't have to show how they used the money.  Besides some fixed wireless in certain areas?  There has not been much headway.  

Maybe she never realized that 'other companies' haven't come to rural areas already because demand or ROI (Return on investment) isn't what they want now. Again we would have seen more expansion with the use of government grants if they were true to the money were they given already.  The author of the article more than Ms. Schaffer is the bigger naysayer, but her comments about poorer areas?  Love to see her example of affordable for them now.

The Fiber Association and The Rural Broadband Association are also two organizations that are to promote rural broadband expansion, and yet have complied a 'never going to work' powerpoint report.  They are speculating on their report - as they admit in so many words - but say so in a very authoritative way.  Their point is the system will get to congested to fulfill the expectations that Starlink has set for themselves.  The second point seems to be they don't like the fact they were granted government program money to help the expansion.  It would fit better if they (Fiber Association/The Rural Broadband Association) pointed to the 640K customers that they lined up with high speed internet, but they don't mention it.  I doubt they have them...what about you?  Do you think they have them?

I can understand the Satellite companies NOT being all that thrilled with Starlink coming online, but I don't understand the motives of organizations committed to wanting better and reliable broadband for its core purpose for being at their jobs.  The rural areas where the digital divide is.

Hello?!  What have you done for us lately?