SpaceX is disputing a major spending plan for its satellite broadband service in Louisiana under the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program (Bead). The company claims that the National Telecommunications and Information administration should reject the state’s final proposal because it does not adequately consider the applications received.
In a comment submitted to the Louisiana broadband office, SpaceX stated that the “Benefit of the Bargain” principle, which prioritizes fiber providers, remains in place despite new rules handed down by the Trump administration. The company argues that Louisiana must revise its final proposal to give more weight to satellite services like its own offerings.
SpaceX has submitted similar comments on Virginia’s final proposal, where it also bid on nearly every eligible location but was awarded only 8 percent of those locations due to fiber providers receiving priority status.
The Trump administration issued new rules for the program in June, eliminating an explicit preference for fiber and making it easier for other technologies like satellite to compete based on deployment cost.
States must now determine which projects are priorities and award grants accordingly. SpaceX has complained that Louisiana treated its bids as non-priority despite having nearly identical infrastructure and technology, highlighting what it sees as self-serving award decisions.
The dispute raises questions about how states will weigh competing bids under the new rules and whether NTIA will side with either the states or SpaceX in its comments on their proposals.
Source: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/spacex-wants-louisianas-bead-plan-reversed