Elon Musk’s Galactic Gambit: The Race to Control America’s Broadband

Under Biden, BEAD was meant to prioritize deploying fiber across the US.

Bloomberg via Getty Images He carried out his work on his home computer. Data has shown that Musk’s LEO space constellation is congested, making it unsuitable for addressing the US digital divide on a large scale. Nathanael Wills, a lead organizer for Delta Interfaith, has been advocating for better broadband in East Carroll Parish for six years. He believes that the lack of affordability and equity provisions, as well as the shift away from future-proof fiber, will not lead to any significant improvements.

Wills expressed frustration that the infrastructure investment was zero dollars, and nothing substantial changed. Many people with Starlink may not be able to install it, and the community will not see any real benefits, such as job creation or economic growth.

Other states, like Virginia, have resisted settling for Starlink over faster fiber options. Musk has used his political influence to try to block state broadband plans that do not prioritize Starlink, claiming that other options waste federal taxpayer money.

The telecom monopolies have historically influenced US telecom policy, resulting in poor decisions and misuse of taxpayer subsidies. Musk is just the latest figure in a long line of opponents fighting for government actions that benefit the public, but his influence is significant.

By the end of 2025, 33 states had not received confirmation of their grant awards for fast funding, falling short of the promised goal of 100% fund approval. Only a few hundred homes in Nebraska and Louisiana have been connected to the internet under the BEAD program, using slower fixed wireless connections instead of fiber.

Bezos’ Blue Origin has not deployed a commercial LEO satellite constellation successfully, and there are no active customers yet. In Nebraska, the changes in the BEAD program have caused chaos, leading some grant winners to walk away from the program entirely.

Gigi Sohn, a former FCC official, believes that the administration’s focus on cost and rising prices will leave more rural communities behind. As states struggle to afford fiber networks, Bezos and Musk could receive additional subsidies for existing or planned networks, depriving communities of the economic benefits of fiber deployment.

The Trump administration’s threats to withhold BEAD funds earmarked for digital training and service improvements in underserved areas have caused confusion and prompted a rush to secure funds for other purposes. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced a bill to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to claw back the nondeployment funds to instead reduce the federal deficit. This opportunistic attempt to hijack funds even angered many Republicans, prompting a bipartisan group of 14 senators to write a letter to the NTIA last year urging the agency to follow Congress’s original intent. Despite multiple missed deadlines, final guidance on the nondeployment funds from the NTIA has not yet been issued.

The upcoming midterms could have a significant impact on the Trump administration’s handling of the Broadband Equity and Deployment Program (BEAD). With the possibility of Democrats taking control of one or both houses, there may be increased oversight and scrutiny of the program’s delays and shortcomings. Telecom experts are urging lawmakers to press for answers on the guidance for nondeployment funds and how returned awards and defaults will be handled.

While some criticize the actions of Secretary Lutnick, Administrator Roth, and Republicans for undermining the broadband expansion opportunity, it appears unlikely that they will face any real consequences. Many states are hesitant to criticize the administration for fear of losing out on broadband funding. Despite political promises of affordable and equitable internet access, the program’s initial ambitions have fallen short, leaving many community leaders disillusioned with what they see as a crony capitalist bureaucracy.

“We’re fed up,” says Wills. “The BEAD program has failed us here.”

Transform the following:

Original: The dog ran quickly through the park.

Transformed: Quickly, the dog ran through the park. Transform the following sentence into a question:

“He is going to the store.”

Is he going to the store? Transform the following:

“Yesterday, I went to the park with my friends and had a picnic.”

“Yesterday, I visited the park with my friends and enjoyed a picnic.”