Put $42 billion into a governemt program and what do you get?

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As of September 2024, SpaceX's Starlink has reached over 4 million subscribers, which means that at least 4 million Starlink receivers have been installed globally. 

Lined pockets, but nothing else. You want rural broadband, call Elon.

The Libs are Noticing Biden’s Broadband Scandal

Early on in his Oval Office tenure, President Joe Biden tasked Vice President Kamala Harris with overseeing a broadband internet program. Her job was to get broadband internet to every American across the country at a cost of $42 billion. 

In September, Republican Senator John Thune exposed the program hadn't connected a single household. 

Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr explained more. 

"In 2021, Vice President Harris agreed to lead the Administration’s $42B plan to expand Internet to millions of Americans. Not one person has been connected to the Internet. None," Carr posted on X ahead of congressional testimony about the matter. "With VP Harris at the helm, Politico recently reported on the “frustration” and “finger-pointing” that now define the program’s 'messy, delayed rollout.' One state official described 'a chaotic implementation environment,' 'dysfunction,' and 'delays.' She added that the Administration 'has provided either no guidance, guidance given too late, or guidance changing midstream.' The Administration is 'slowing states down,' she said."

"So what has the Administration been doing over the last 1,039 days instead of connecting Americans?  It has been layering on red tape and advancing a wish list of progressive policy goals," Carr continued. "The $42 billion program led by Vice President Harris is being used to pursue a climate change agenda, DEI requirements, price controls, preferences for government-run networks, and rules that will lead to wasteful overbuilding.  All of this will leave rural and other unconnected communities behind."

As a participant in this graft program, Maine has experienced the same failure; contractors have walked away from bidding after calculating the cost of complying with all of the DEI requirements (minorities are hard to find in the Pine Tree State), union rules and pay scales, and new environmental regulations targeted at the installations. Obviously, the clusterfuck is not limited to Maine, but extends across the country, unlike the promised broadband access.