Overhaul of $42 billion program could delay deployment for years, Democrats warn.

Summary

Senate Democrats accused the Trump administration of stalling $42 billion in broadband grants and redirecting funds toward Elon Musk’s Starlink by overturning Biden-era rules favoring fiber networks.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s “tech-neutral” policy prioritizes cost over quality, potentially sidelining more reliable fiber infrastructure.

A May 30 letter warned delays could push projects back two years.

Trump also scrapped a separate $2.75 billion Digital Equity program, calling it “racist and illegal.” Critics say the moves undermine broadband expansion in rural and underserved communities.

  • LePoisson@lemmy.world
    45·
    2 days ago

    This administration is really trying to fuck us all but in particular some of Trump’s most ardent supporters,

  • skozzii@lemmy.ca
    29·
    2 days ago

    Starlink is worse in every way compared to broadband, security purposes alone it should never be considered. Nothing beats a wire under the ground.

    • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
      128·
      2 days ago

      You can deploy Starlink in minutes. Wired requires months.

      RV lifestyle people depend on Starlink.

      I wish there were better options but there aren’t.

      Starlink is not worse in every way though.

      • 3abas@lemm.ee
        2·
        1 day ago

        If your RV could have fiber, Starlink would be worse in every way… You stripped out the context (fiber availability).

        Starlink is amazing when fiber isn’t possible. When fiber is possible, it’s cheaper in the long term and it’s in fact better in every way (latency, reliability, performance, throughout, etc).

        • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
          51·
          2 days ago

          That hasn’t been a problem for me nor most customers. I’m on video calls all day long.

          • django@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
            1·
            2 days ago

            During what weather condition? I would expect hard rain or a storm to do something with the connection.

            • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
              41·
              2 days ago

              Thunderstorms, dust storms.

              Snow is a problem if it sticks to the antenna and the snow melt feature can’t keep up, but it’s never been a significant complaint.

              The only people that complain are the ones that switched from a completely acceptable wired connection to starlink, it this service isn’t designed for them. It’s for me and all the other people that have no other usable options.

              • middlemouse@lemmy.world
                2·
                1 day ago

                The point is that the grant money could have been used to create more acceptable wired connections, which you admit here are better.

                Now the grant money is just going to starlink meaning that more people are in the same situation as you where they have no choice.

  • Tronn4@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    2 days ago

    Always heard about fiber rollout from att in my city. Been more than 10 years. Only the rich zip have gotten it. There isn’t even any rollout front those cities to the immediate surrounding communities. Zero effort from the telcos. There a more massive push for broadband through wifi.