We obtained nearly 1,000 complaints about SpaceX’s Starlink. Here’s what they reveal

More than 900 complaints that mention SpaceX or its Starlink internet service have been filed with the Federal Communications Commission over the past five years, according to files obtained through a public records request. The complaints provide a view into how the technology has already evolved into a critical lifeline for some rural U.S. residents. They also provide insight into some of the leading issues that frustrate Starlink customers, including variant—and sometimes disappointing—internet speeds, as well as poor customer service. The complaints come as U.S. states prepare to hand SpaceX hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies to expand Starlink service in their most internet-deprived regions. In these areas, Starlink aims to provide access to the web by connecting people, via a home terminal, to the internet provided by its satellite constellation—and avoid the long and difficult work of installing fiber. SpaceX is now readying for a historic IPO and several upgrades to Starlink, including new satellites, a next-generation gateway station, and expanded direct-to-cell coverage. But the unearthed docs suggest the Elon Musk-owned company has, in some cases, exasperated Starlink users with what they call abysmal customer service. SpaceX’s customer support page lists several ways to get in touch with the company, including phone numbers, a message form, and—for those who use Starlink’s app—a way to file a ticket or seek help from Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI (another Musk company that SpaceX now owns).