From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: from smtp2.nextlayer.at (smtp2.nextlayer.at [IPv6:2a01:190:1764:150::37]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher AECDH-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by lists.bufferbloat.net (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 8A1493CB43 for ; Mon, 22 Aug 2022 15:47:38 -0400 (EDT) Received: from [192.168.0.49] (d50-117-141-56.yt.northwestel.net [50.117.141.56]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 (128/128 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by smtp.nextlayer.at (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 4EC39802870 for ; Mon, 22 Aug 2022 21:47:36 +0200 (CEST) DKIM-Filter: OpenDKIM Filter v2.11.0 smtp.nextlayer.at 4EC39802870 Message-ID: Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2022 12:47:33 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.8.1.24) Gecko/20100411 Thunderbird/2.0.0.24 Mnenhy/0.7.6.666 To: Benjamin Henrion via Starlink Content-Language: en-GB From: Daniel AJ Sokolov Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Subject: [Starlink] No RDOF-Funds for Starlink X-BeenThere: starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.20 Precedence: list List-Id: "Starlink has bufferbloat. Bad." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2022 19:47:38 -0000 Hello, Starlink was posed to receive 900 million USD from the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to bring broadband internet to unserviced areas of the United States - until it wasn't. Earlier this month, the FCC decided NOT to give Starlink any of the 900 million dollars after all. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-848A1.pdf "The Bureau has determined that, based on the totality of the long-form applications, the expansive service areas reflected in their winning bids, and their inadequate responses to the Bureau’s follow-up questions, LTD and Starlink are not reasonably capable of complying with the Commission’s requirements. The Commission has an obligation to protect our limited Universal Service Funds and to avoid extensive delays in providing needed service to rural areas, including by avoiding subsidizing risky proposals that promise faster speeds than they can deliver, and/or propose deployment plans that are not realistic or that are predicated on aggressive assumptions and predictions. We observe that Ookla data reported as of July 31, 2022 indicate that Starlink’s speeds have been declining from the last quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2022, including upload speeds that are falling well below 20 Mbps. Accordingly, we deny LTD’s and Starlink’s long-form applications, and both are in default on all winning bids (...)" (For purposes of Starlink, you can ignore the parts about LTD Broadband.) Also note this 2021 study showing Starlink's impending capacity crunch: We forecast a capacity shortfall in 2028: - 56% of RDOF subscribers are congested in a forecasted low demand scenario - More locations will be impacted if RDOF usage is higher, or SpaceX launches fewer satellites by 2028 . RDOF service could be significantly worse if Starlink capacity is allocated to non-RDOF use cases https://www.ntca.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-02/FBA_LEO_RDOF_Assessment_Final_Report_20210208.pdf FYI Daniel