Posted on 07/30/2025 8:45:15 AM PDT by MagillaX
Rule changes and an aggressive new timeline on how Colorado can use its $826.5 million in federal broadband dollars had local internet providers scrambling this month. All had to reapply for grants to subsidize new internet infrastructure for underserved rural communities — including ISPs who had already received preliminary approvals.
(Excerpt) Read more at coloradosun.com ...
The Satellite companies have come in and underbid the fiber providers. Satellite has also made promises they are able to provide the same levels of service as a fiber placement. Being the technology is new I can understand the caution but the liberal deep state is actively looking for ways to avoid Satellite deployment or to keep it at a minimum.
This is be done by exaggerating Satellite weakness such as tree canopy or congestion and applying those weaknesses over a larger scale that they would normally warrant so that hey are not considered a viable option.
It would be wise for Sec. Lutnick to scrutinize the final proposals for fairness in assessment and for overstatement of satellite weaknesses. As well as holding high cost services in check.
A reasonable common sense approach with adequate technology proportioning would provide sustainability and redundancy
The USDA’s “rural economic development” incompetent fraudsters have pulled this scam for 10-15 years now. Even after they grift millions out of Congress, the result is dark fiber because there is never a viable business plan to actually use it to deliver services. Meanwhile private companies have built wireless networks that deliver internet speeds good enough for streaming on their own dime and Starlink is now far more affordable than previous Hughes, etc satellite services were.
The whole thing is a made-up issue just like “food desserts” - look around and you’ll find rural America is enjoying high speed internet service just like those living in food desserts are so fat they have to use the handi-cart to get around Walmart.
Makes no sense to run fiber to podunkville and definitely not to many rural houses where the driveways a a half mile or more to the road. You are never going to get them hooked up. Drop a Starlink receiver in the yard and they are good to go in a few minutes.
Satellite and cellular makes for redundancy.
“Part of that big payout was going to be with the non deployment portion.”
I’m not sure what this means and would like to know more.
Starlink is the obvious solution. Low cost. Home by home install. No running miles and miles of fiber.
You basically buy a starlink antenna for every homebuyer.
There would be money left over.
However, if the installation was subsidized by federal grant money, then it was just busy work to make $$.
I made this comment yesterday on a similar post:
Mediacom just came through my rural “underserved” neighborhood and laid cable. One of the workers told me it was a state grant. They seemed to be in a major hurry and got the cable run very quickly and then...disappeared. This the second time someone has done this. I found coax cable buried in my yard and asked a long time neighbor. He said they came in, laid the cable, and were never heard from again. I’ve got T Mobile home internet that I’m totally satisfied with and if I change it will be to Starlink.
It is amazing to me how a government entity is so willing to waste money. But then again maybe its not a waste to them if it is going to a favorite donor.
If you were to read the restructuring policy notice (which is now buried on the NTIA website and maybe a bit of internal pushback?) you will find the high cost per house that was as high as 100K. When the service can be provided by satellite for a fraction of the cost.
The blue states and maybe others will push back by denying satellite service just because they have an agenda to support their colleagues and social networks (alias deep state) that are pushing fiber funding.
If appropriate technological balance is not achieved the lawsuits will come out projects will be delayed and the lawyers will get their share of the money.
The easiest way to understand . This is for Broadband funding that is not directly related to the construction of Internet network components for universal coverage.
Union people install fiber. This was a massive bribe to them, nothing more.
L
Most of the installation will be from contractors. Much of the material will be oversees.
Anyway looks like the deep state is back in charge of the program after an initial show by Secretary Lutnick.
The states are basically back to what they were planning pre benefit of the bargain and the technology neutral push.
The states just needed some time for excuses and for the NTIA deep state folks to regain their footing.
“This is for Broadband funding that is not directly related to the construction of Internet network components for universal coverage.”
So that would mean, say, starlink antennas, as opposed to laying fiber optic cable up every dirt road in the Colorado mountains??
Yes that would be the most cost effective if line of site can be achieved. That may mean a large pole to get above the tree line, which would be the down side.
The states are going to push fiber over Starlink or other LOE providers due to weather reliability and line of site limitations, and it is a valid argument.
But the cost of bringing service to these houses like you mentioned that are isolated on a mountain can run over 20K or more a pop which runs up the total cost quite a bit, and IMO we should try at least to get our spending under control.
To bring balance to this program Sec. Lutnick should cap the high cost services at around 12k and ensure the states are allowing the providers to pass by those houses that are extremely high cost. Which they may not be allowing.
Those houses who are passed should be given the option to clear a tree if needed or place a pole in their yard for a clear signal.
This will cause the program to go under budget which will allow Sec Lutnick to take back a large part of the program funding.
Another interesting fact is that a portion of the people who are now considered served will not even sign up for the service which in reality raises the cost per active service even higher.
Thanks for the clear explanation!
the gravy train gets derailed with Starlink. no payouts to Polis’ buddies. Think Solyndra. As mentioned, with starlink you’ll get a square antenna, some cable and voila! you’re live.
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Yep, Obama's $2 Billion "Shovel-Ready" plan had $$$ to run fiber past my Mom's very rural place in the foothills of California...but the fiber can only be used by the county schools office and one other govt. agency. Now her county road is suffering from the patch job they did to cover up the fiber install (middle of the lane in the road) and she is still stuck with the Internet/ISP's I could get her...dial-up modem (she is too far from the CO for DSL) then Wild Blue satellite, then an AT&T "hotspot" and now I have her on T-Mobile Home...all while her house is 80 yards from a fiber install. Meanwhile billions more have been allocated for "rural Internet" and nothing gets done!
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