Trump nukes Biden’s broadband gimmick, saving taxpayers billions

The Blaze ^ | July 28, 2025 | Arynne Wexler

[Paul R.]

What is “decent speeds”?

I’m looking at T-Mobile to possibly do a setup where our cell service links back through the web, as our OTA service from the local towers is VERY weak.* Basically, we’d end up with our own little mini-tower on our property.

Verizon has such a cell via web service, but the equipment is pricey. The T-Mobile rep I talked to didn’t think they had it, but said it might be coming via their relationship with Starlink. That was several months ago — I need to pay them another visit, I think.

*At least 1/3 of the time at home, I get “service unavailable” messages. And, it is. (This is on Verizon, who owns all the local towers.)

[suthener]

“What is “decent speeds”?”

Right now I’m at 214 download and 5.46 upload. That works for me. I don’t game or live stream, just surf and stream.

“I’m looking at T-Mobile to possibly do a setup where our cell service links back through the web, as our OTA service from the local towers is VERY weak.* Basically, we’d end up with our own little mini-tower on our property.”

I never heard of all that.

[Paul R.]

I assume you mean 214 Mbps. I only have (measured by speedtest.net) ~75 Mbps on download, on fiber, and usually pretty much the same upload speed. That's fast enough for us, possibly even overkill, except my daughter does game so when wifey and I are both watching vids and daughter-san is playing, we might be pushing it -- but I've never noticed any issue, except at times when our local ISP / rural phone company is having serious problems anyway.

I never heard of all that.

Yeah, me neither, until a service tech for our phone company mentioned that Verizon has it, and a couple of his customers have such a setup. The module that uses a small antenna is available on Amazon -- the modules are made by Verizon and somebody else I don't recall (not a tel-co). But, they are apparently dicey to use (esp. setup) with anyone but Verizon, even tho' claimed to be compatible with "all major carriers". And, I'd like to get away from Verizon. Their service as it is is just too pricey. The T-Mobile rep acknowledged their existence, but had no clue on compatibility with them (T-Mobile), and, T-Mobile doesn't have a module (mini-tower) of their own. He suggested an upcoming T-Mobile + Starlink system, but was very hazy on details there too (and this was generally a seemingly quite knowledgeable rep.) :-(

Like I said, it's been several months, and the mini-usb port on my old flip phone* is nearly shot too (very hard to get a good connection to charge the phone - many cables tried). So, I need to talk to T-Mobile again.

*Yeah, I know. But I just can't stand anything bigger than a flip phone in my pocket when doing outdoor activities - which I do a LOT. Unless maybe someone makes a sort of hip(?) "holster" for smart phones. And then I have to have two holsters on me, the one for the gun a CC, in some situations? Ugh. And even in a protective case I'd likely still break a smart phone. I don't even like the "burden" on me of my little 9mm if I'm actually doing much of anything, as I'm often carrying tools / garden tools, fishing gear, or whatever, anyway...

A flip phone size smart phone that can send a nice image onto a separate screen that folds up to fit compactly and flexibly into a pocket? That might be the cat's meow... The don't lose either - hahaha!

[Paul R.]

THEN don't lose either - hahaha!