{"id":1323,"date":"2025-03-18T12:44:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T13:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/?p=1323"},"modified":"2025-03-28T11:49:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T11:49:31","slug":"the-elon-musk-company-you-should-be-worried-about-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/18\/the-elon-musk-company-you-should-be-worried-about-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"The Elon Musk company you should be worried about right now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President Donald Trump and Elon Musk show off a Tesla Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025. | Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next phase of Elon Musk\u2019s plan to entangle his companies with the workings of the federal government is well underway. That entails not only President Donald Trump\u2019s photo op with a Tesla<\/a> in front of the White House but also, surprisingly, the future of your internet connection. <\/p>\n

More specifically, Musk is making moves that could change the way millions of Americans access the internet by boosting Starlink, the satellite-based internet company operated by his company, SpaceX, of which he is the founder, CEO, and major shareholder. <\/p>\n

Starlink and other space-based internet projects work by beaming internet service from satellites in orbit<\/a> down to Earth\u2019s surface, as opposed to wired broadband internet, which typically relies on fiber-optic cable. Satellite internet\u2019s major advantage is that, with a few exceptions, it can work almost anywhere on the planet. Its drawbacks \u2014 including slow speeds, high latency, and spotty reliability \u2014 mean that fiber internet is better for the vast majority of people right now. <\/p>\n

In the last week or so, the Commerce Department said it plans to rewrite the rules<\/a> of a $42 billion high-speed internet initiative in a way that would benefit Starlink. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) meanwhile granted Starlink a waiver<\/a> that will make its new service, which lets phones connect to satellites, more powerful, as satellite competitors urged the agency to rein in Musk\u2019s company<\/a>, which they say is \u201canticompetitive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Musk affiliates have also reportedly instructed government agencies to start using Starlink. The White House is now using Starlink \u201cdonated\u201d by the company \u201cto improve internet access on the campus,\u201d according to the New York Times<\/a>, and the General Services Administration<\/a> has also been using the service, apparently without oversight. SpaceX confirmed that it\u2019s leasing Starlink kits<\/a> to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), amid reports that the agency might cancel a $2.4 billion contract with Verizon and award it to Starlink instead. The company denied<\/a> that it was trying to take over the contract.<\/p>\n

There are billions of dollars at stake here, but this isn\u2019t just about the money. (Musk doesn\u2019t really need it.) Some people are worried that these developments represent the early steps of a power shift in the telecom industry, one that could result in the world\u2019s richest man deciding how the nation\u2019s communications network works. <\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have never before had a situation where the owner of a major communications company is inside the government. This is a very unusual situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

In addition to hacking away at the federal government in his unelected position as the head of DOGE<\/a>, Musk could also become the single individual who is  \u201cthe dominant force in telecom policy,\u201d according to Blair Levin<\/a>, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and former chief of staff at the FCC. What\u2019s more, the US telecommunications system is key to national security, and Musk\u2019s business interests might not always line up with Washington\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have never before had a situation where the owner of a major communications company is inside the government. This is a very unusual situation,\u201d Levin said. \u201cIt\u2019s very troubling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of this must sound hyperbolic. It\u2019s also hypothetical \u2014 for now. I\u2019ve been writing<\/a> about Starlink since before it launched its first batch of satellites in 2019, and from bringing remote parts of the world online to connecting Ukrainian soldiers at war, there\u2019s no doubt that the technology is incredible. <\/p>\n

But if recent events are any indication, the Trump administration plans to advantage Starlink in ways that benefit Musk more than the people who need better internet service. It also opens the door for Musk to become a much bigger power broker in the telecom world \u2014 and have more of a say in how you get online.<\/p>\n

Elon\u2019s space internet is not better than Earth internet yet <\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s tempting to think Starlink is the future of internet service. It\u2019s very easy to set up, which is a huge deal to anyone who lacks broadband access \u2014 soldiers in Ukraine<\/a>, for example, or farmers in rural America. But Starlink is not the same as the fiber-based broadband that\u2019s become the gold standard for internet access. <\/p>\n

For a number of reasons, space internet isn\u2019t as fast, as reliable, or as cheap<\/a> as terrestrial broadband. That\u2019s why Congress prioritized companies that lay fiber-optic cable with the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which provides federal funding to bring high-speed internet access to as many as 8 million Americans who have never had it, as part of the 2021 infrastructure bill<\/a>. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick now wants to make the program \u201ctechnology neutral,\u201d a change that would increase Starlink\u2019s chances of getting grants. Whereas Musk\u2019s company was on track to receive a little over $4 billion under the old rules, Starlink could now get between $10 billion and $20 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If the Commerce Department goes through with the proposed changes to the BEAD program, its implementation would be delayed \u2014 more than one expert told me it would be by at least a year. Which is ironic given that Republicans made delays in BEAD\u2019s rollout a talking point<\/a> during the 2024 election. This process involves digging miles of trenches for tubes of cables that connect far-flung parts of the country. It takes time and costs money, but this infrastructure would last for decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is truly a historic opportunity to get fiber to a lot of these places,\u201d Drew Garner<\/a>, director of policy engagement at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, told me. \u201cWe’ll probably never have another opportunity like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Some argue<\/a> that Starlink and other satellite-based internet companies could get people online more quickly and without the expense of laying fiber. Starlink already has more than 7,000 satellites in orbit and is trying to add more. But it\u2019s unclear how quickly Starlink could actually add more users, since the company already has a waiting list for people to sign up because its network is at capacity. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to mention the fact that, for now, Starlink is neither faster nor cheaper than terrestrial broadband. Starlink delivers download speeds of 50 to 100 Mbps, while the FCC defines broadband as 100 Mbps<\/a>. The average download speed in the US is about 275 Mbps<\/a>. Starlink also currently charges customers $80 a month<\/a> for its \u201cResidential Lite\u201d service, while the average US internet bill is $78 a month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is what makes the Trump administration\u2019s apparent preferential treatment of Musk\u2019s company so frustrating. It\u2019s a poorer solution that takes longer and doesn\u2019t result in savings for most Americans. <\/p>\n

Musk posts Starlink into the FAA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We don\u2019t yet know how things will shake out with BEAD. The Commerce Department could change its mind, and the broadband infrastructure expansion could break ground in a few states this spring. However, the Trump administration is already starting to use Starlink in unusual ways.<\/p>\n

The FAA, like many federal government agencies, is dealing with massive staff cuts at the behest of Musk\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency. Just days after 67 people died in a midair collision<\/a> near Washington\u2019s Reagan Airport, Musk\u2019s staff urged FAA staffers to accept buyout offers, which more than 1,300 of them did, according to The Atlantic<\/a>. DOGE also ended up firing<\/a> about 400 FAA employees. When Musk\u2019s team tried to lay off air traffic controllers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy finally intervened<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time \u2014 and operating on orders from Musk himself \u2014 a SpaceX engineer started to deploy Starlink technology on FAA systems. Musk posted<\/a> on X that \u201cthe Verizon communication system to air traffic control is breaking down very rapidly,\u201d that \u201cthe situation is extremely dire,\u201d and that he would send Starlink dishes to the rescue. The FAA has since confirmed<\/a> that it\u2019s reviewing the $2.4 billion Verizon contract and testing Starlink equipment at several locations, including in Alaska, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. <\/p>\n

Musk\u2019s posting-fueled intervention at the FAA is a scary one. Almost single-handedly, the billionaire threw cold water on a contract with Verizon, one that will affect the safety and security of Americans. Although it\u2019s not clear if Starlink will indeed take over this particular contract, we have a glimpse at what it looks like for a singular bureaucrat \u2014 one that sells satellite dishes that don\u2019t always work<\/a> \u2014 to call the shots.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you’re downloading stuff to your house in a rural area, and your speed drops because the system is oversubscribed, that’s annoying,\u201d said Harold Feld<\/a>, senior vice president of Public Knowledge. \u201cIf you’re the FAA, and your speed drops because the capacity is oversubscribed, that\u2019s deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Project 2025\u2019s surprising role in all this<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Elon Musk and DOGE, which is run by employees of Musk\u2019s companies, certainly appear to be operating within the federal government to promote the best interests of those companies. The \u201cwhy\u201d of it all will take some time to figure out. Less than two months into Trump\u2019s second presidency, we\u2019re too busy keeping track of what\u2019s even happening, especially where Musk is involved.<\/p>\n

As for Starlink and Elon Musk\u2019s apparent ambitions to dominate the US telecom industry, the FCC\u2019s cooperation is essential. And Brendan Carr, the agency\u2019s new chair, happens to be a big Elon Musk fan<\/a>. Carr first made contact with Musk on X, where the two exchanged complaints about Democrats denying Starlink broadband subsidies and blamed Kamala Harris for rolling BEAD out too slowly. Carr was also the author of the chapter on the FCC<\/a> for the big report published by the Heritage Foundation\u2019s Project 2025<\/a>. In it, he argues<\/a> against terrestrial broadband expansion and in favor of accelerating the development of satellite technology, like Starlink. <\/p>\n

\"Starlink<\/p>\n

One of Project 2025\u2019s main goals is to \u201cdismantle the administrative state<\/a>,\u201d and in Musk, the right found a key ally. Musk has also found an opportunity: When the bureaucrats are all fired, someone still has to make decisions, and it\u2019s easier to move quickly without any oversight. <\/p>\n

Across the world, people are setting Tesla dealerships on fire<\/a> to protest Musk\u2019s gutting of the federal workforce and hoping to tank its stock. But what\u2019s happening more quietly with Starlink, the Commerce Department, and the FCC shows that the multibillionaire isn\u2019t just interested in making money. He\u2019s consolidating power<\/a> in Washington and helping determine what the future will look like.<\/p>\n

Selling cars is one thing, but taking control over America\u2019s telecommunications network is another. Musk is not there yet, but we have already seen Musk use Starlink specifically to intervene in military operations abroad \u2014 he prevented Ukraine from launching a surprise attack <\/a>against Russia in 2022. That sets a scary precedent for what the future holds.<\/p>\n

\u201cElon Musk has been pretty cavalier about his ability to turn on or turn off Starlink to influence policy decisions,\u201d Garner, from the Benton Institute, told me, referring to a series of recent posts on X from Musk<\/a> about cutting off Starlink access in Ukraine. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just scary that Musk is becoming more powerful in the telecom industry. It is uniquely terrifying that he alone could decide to bring networks down. And that might be an even more important development to keep our eyes on than the Tesla ad he produced<\/a> in front of the White House. <\/p>\n

Update, March 18, 9:45 am ET:<\/strong> This story was originally published March 12 and has been updated to include news of the White House\u2019s use of Starlink.<\/em><\/p>\n

A version of this story was also published in the User Friendly newsletter. <\/em>Sign up here<\/strong><\/em><\/a> so you don\u2019t miss the next one!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk show off a Tesla Model S on the South Lawn of the White House on March 11, 2025. | Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images The next phase of Elon Musk\u2019s plan to entangle his companies with the workings of the federal government is well underway. That entails not only President Donald […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1323"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1332,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1323\/revisions\/1332"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/asian-idol.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}