D.C. Memo: Carr Dings New Mexico over Starlink Overbuild Plan, Says It's 'DOGE Time'

◾ Lawyer: Carr Agenda Needs Third GOPer ◾ Simington: Space Economy Pinned Down by Bureaucracy ◾ NCTA to FCC: Focus on Deregulation ◾ Dem AGs Want Unlocking ◾ ALLO Agrees to Net Neutrality in Boulder

New Mexico: A top broadband official in New Mexico is seeking $70 million in state money to offer a free Starlink dish to 95,000 unserved or underseved locations immediately. But the state's plan also includes spending $675.4 million in BEAD money later to connect those Starlink homes to fiber or another Internet access technology over the next five years. "That’s like the government paying for you to have a driveway and then coming back a couple of years later and paying to build you a second driveway parallel to your existing one," said incoming FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Nov. 23 on his X feed. According to Carr, New Mexico's pivot to Starlink to close the digital divide exposed a deep flaw in the Biden administration's $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which prefers fiber over satellite broadband in handing out deployment grants. "New Mexico shows that, contrary to the federal government’s claim, Starlink is a reliable broadband service and the Biden Admin’s contrary claim is not grounded in the facts or sound policy. It is @DOGE time," Carr added. As an aside, Carr endorsed New Mexico's Starlink approach "standing alone." He added, "This voucher idea can make a lot of sense. It could quickly and efficiently connect rural locations, allowing us to spend pennies, if any, on the dollar.  The government should explore it."