Republican FCC Commissioner Alleges Double Standards After FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel Says SpaceX's Starlink Is Dominating Satellite Internet

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr on Wednesday slammed FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel after the latter alleged that Starlink is currently monopolizing the satellite internet space segment.

What Happened: Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Aerospace Summit earlier this week, Rosenworcel emphasized the need for competition in the commercial space industry. She highlighted that Starlink now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all active satellites in orbit.

"Every communications market that has competition is stronger – we see lower prices and more innovation, and honestly space should be no exception," Rosenworcel said in a conversation with FedScoop's Rebecca Heilweil while adding that the U.S. economy does not benefit from “monopolies.”

Starlink is the satellite internet segment of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company has launched over 7,000 satellites into low-Earth orbit to provide the service.

Carr slammed Rosenworcel’s comment on Wednesday highlighting how FCC previously decided that it would not offer subsidies to Starlink from its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, alleging that the SpaceX subsidiary failed to demonstrate that it had the technical and financial ability to deploy internet with certain speeds at 642,925 locations in 35 states.

“2023 FCC: Claims that Starlink is not capable of providing high-speed Internet to thousands of people as the reason for revoking an $885M award to the company. 2024 FCC: Claims that Starlink provides so much high-speed Internet that the word monopoly should be tossed out there,” Carr wrote on social media platform X.

2023 FCC: Claims that Starlink is not capable of providing high-speed Internet to thousands of people as the reason for revoking an $885M award to the company.

2024 FCC: Claims that Starlink provides so much high-speed Internet that the word monopoly should be tossed out there.

— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) September 11, 2024

Why It Matters: Carr has previously slammed the FCC’s decision to deny Starlink nearly $900 million in subsidies, alleging that the agency had added itself to the growing list of administrative agencies taking action against Elon Musk’s businesses following the billionaire's acquisition of Twitter (now X) on the instructions of President Joe Biden. 

The Republican FCC Commissioner is seemingly a supporter of Starlink. Last week, he wrote to Brazil telecom regulator Anatel's President to address the ban on X and the freezing of Starlink assets.

Carr said these decisions violate Brazil's own laws and called them "arbitrary" and "capricious."

Carr also requested a meeting with Anatel President Carlos Baigorri to address the issues. "If you prefer, I will come to you in Brazil to do so," the commissioner wrote.

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Photo courtesy: Gage Skidmore via Flickr