A 5.7% reduction in funded locations for StarLink is… not dramatic. If the project falls on that basis, they've got bigger problems. Much of that discrepancy falls squarely on the shoulders of the FCC and incumbent ISPs filing form 477, as well as the RDOF auction being held before improving mapping — as Rosenworcel pointed out. The state of broadband mapping is still dire.
If I felt like the reallocation of funds would be 100% guaranteed to benefit the end Internet user… I'd cheer too.
If.
JHA