Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to deploy its satellite internet constellation Starlink in Mississippi in 2021, potentially bringing a new type of satellite internet to tens of thousands of rural Mississippians. The FCC recently awarded SpaceX a $44M contract to bring its new internet capabilities to an assigned 38,956 locations in the state. (Entire list of contracts at *DA-20-1422A2.pdf (fcc.gov)) Starlink satellites are put into low Earth orbit, providing faster speeds and lower latency. Satellite internet does have drawbacks, lacking both the speed and low latency of wired broadband. A 2018 brief from the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University found the state to be lacking in rural access compared to other states in the region. FCC data show nearly 33 percent of rural Mississippians lacked broadband access in 2016, much higher than urban dwellers. (Source: Jackson Free Press 12/21/20) Mississippi Skies May Soon Harbor SpaceX Satellites to Increase Internet Access | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS UPDATE: Viasat has petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to perform an environmental review of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband constellation, arguing that the satellite system poses environmental hazards in space and on Earth. (Source: Space News 12/30/20) Viasat asks FCC to perform environmental review of Starlink - SpaceNews
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