![]() Commerce Secretary Lutnick recently called for a "tech-neutral" approach to the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, signaling a potential shift from fiber to satellite technology. This could redirect $10-20 billion in funding to providers like Starlink, disrupting states' existing plans that primarily focus on fiber deployment. In a blog post, the nonproft organization Connect Humanity argues strongly for maintaining BEAD's fiber-first approach, highlighting fiber's advantages:
In contrast, LEO satellite broadband faces limitations:
While satellite technology has its place in serving extremely remote areas, the article contends that fiber remains the most cost-effective long-term solution for most communities. It compares the fiber-to-satellite shift to "replacing a bridge with a ferry service" - cheaper initially but less effective and ultimately more expensive.
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