Elon Musk took aim at the Biden-Harris administration this week, criticizing their decision to revoke an FCC grant to his Starlink satellite service. According to Musk, the decision, made in 2022, could have directly impacted the effectiveness of Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina.
Musk’s Starlink system had originally been awarded $885.5 million by the Trump-era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deliver high-speed internet to rural areas across 35 states, including North Carolina. This would have provided critical connectivity to remote communities, many of which have been devastated by the recent hurricane.
However, the Biden-Harris FCC, led by Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, withdrew the grant, claiming Starlink did not meet the necessary requirements for delivering broadband.
Musk accused the administration of playing politics, tweeting, “Had the FCC not illegally revoked the SpaceX Starlink award, it would probably have saved lives in North Carolina.”
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Republican, echoed Musk’s frustration, arguing that the grant’s cancellation lacked legal grounds and could leave rural Americans underserved during times of crisis. Starlink has since been deployed in parts of North Carolina, but critics say the aid could have been far more extensive had the original grant been upheld.
Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, also voiced her concerns, suggesting the FCC put American lives at risk by blocking Starlink’s expansion into rural disaster zones. As Hurricane Helene’s aftermath continues to unfold, the controversy around the administration’s broadband decisions has added fuel to the fire of an already heated political debate.