Why Would SpaceX Need $20 Billion from BEAD?

The most recent tallies for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program estimated that there are around 6.4 million unserved homes to be covered by the program. Hypothetically, let’s consider that we use Starlink for 6.4 million installations. What should that cost? The Wall Street Journal reported that “Musk’s SpaceX, could receive $10 billion to $20 billion” with “[Secretary] Lutnick’s overhaul.” Based on what? The current cost for a residential ground mount installation kit for Starlink is $349. Add $199 for a roof mount. At $548, 6.4 million kits would cost the BEAD program $3.5 billion. That’s $3.5 billion out of $43.5 billion to get every single “un- or underserved” home waiting on BEAD, a Starlink system. A good temporary solution while they build fiber.  Also, for a provider to get BEAD funding, they have to cough up 30 percent to 50 percent in matching funds based on their total construction costs of building new fiber infrastructure. The only new component to the Starlink idea is the home “pizza box” installs. The Starlink network is existing. Where would the additional funding go if the Wall Street Journal BEAD estimates prove correct? 

[In 2008, Chris Scharrer founded DCS Technology Design]