D.C. Memo: FCC Soaking in Hurricane Politics as Milton Nears Tampa Bay
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Starlink: FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr issued a statement Friday about his visit that day to areas of North Carolina hammered by Hurricane Helene. But the Republican also spoke out on Elon Musk's X microblogging platform, where he reminded readers that the FCC last December cut off satellite Internet provider Starlink (which Musk owns along with the SpaceX rocket company) from $885 million in auction-won funding to serve 640,000 rural homes and businesses in 35 states, including ravaged parts of North Carolina. "The North Carolina counties where Starlink kits are being sent today are some of the exact same counties that the government claimed, in last year’s unlawful revocation decision, could not be reliably served by Starlink," Carr said on his X feed Friday. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who approved the action against Starlink, had staff release a strong defense of her action. "Chairwoman Rosenworcel stands by the FCC’s thorough review of a program meant to provide long-term access to reliable and affordable broadband in rural communities. In this instance, the agency denied public funds to more than a dozen companies – not just Starlink – who did not meet the program requirements," said FCC spokesman Jonathan Uriarte. He cited the FCC’s concern with Starlink’s $600 start-up cost and then noted “nothing is stopping the company from offering their service in that [hurricane] region without taxpayer dollars." Taking to his X feed Friday, Elon Musk blasted FEMA by accusing it of blocking shipments of Starlink equipment to North Carolina. "SpaceX engineers are trying to deliver Starlink terminals & supplies to devastated areas in North Carolina right now and FEMA is both failing to help AND won’t let others help. This is unconscionable!!" Musk said. Musk also got into it on X with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about allegations the FAA was blocking SpaceX teams from flying in Starlink kits in areas of stricken North Carolina. Later, Musk and Buttigieg figured things out. "Thanks for helping simplify the FAA NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). Support flights are now underway. Much appreciated," Musk said on X. Meanwhile, Hurricane Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay, Fl., area and remain a hurricane while crossing central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.