Why doesn't the government have a few planes or blimps fly overhead with base stations from the major mobile carriers?
because the government somehow lost its ability to execute any meaningful project especially under time constraints
Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
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Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#12You gotta have the hardware right?
Isn't this then just ... kinda a normal "free 30 days" offer?
This seems not far from handing out free AOL disks, except you also need some added hardware?
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#13How long does it take to rebuild fiber infrastructure? This is not a kindness, it is a promotion. Six months would be a kindness.
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#14Why doesn't the government have a few planes or blimps fly overhead with base stations from the major mobile carriers?
because the government somehow lost its ability to execute any meaningful project especially under time constraints
It is weird what happens when you privatize so much and then find out too late it isn’t profitable for companies to have fleets of emergency internet blimps primed and ready to go 24/7.
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#15Why doesn't the government have a few planes or blimps fly overhead with base stations from the major mobile carriers?
>a few planes or blimps
If we use the map from the starlink page I feel like it would be a lot more than "a few" and I'm not really sure you'd get the places that "need" it desperately.
https://api.starlink.com/public-files/HurricaneHeleneCoverag...
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#16I hope we can focus on the human kindness that Starlink is showing and ignore the political overtones. Both Trump and the current administration are creating the impression that it was their idea. Maybe Elon or Starlink thought of it first? It doesn't really matter. Let's all just do what we can to help the hurricane victims.
Most of the comments so far about the nuts and bolts usage. The downside of talking about not expressing "political overtones" is that you did bring it up, and I honestly don't even know exactly what those "political overtones" would be anyhow as it relates to this story specifically anyhow.
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#17Despite the hate on the promo the tech they offer is still pretty cool. Only way I knew my in-laws were safe near Asheville was because one of their neighbors had starlink and a generator. Took a week for them to get power and cell phone service back and there is no way to get to them without a helicopter so if it wasn't for the product we would have just learned that they were alright.
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#18You gotta have the hardware right? Isn't this then just ... kinda a normal "free 30 days" offer? This seems not far from handing out free AOL disks, except you also need some added hardware?
They're mostly getting the hardware for free. A lot of people in TN and elsewhere are delivering and installing Starlink units for free to the disaster areas(more than the US govt), and begging Elon for free service. Seems like he or someone at Starlink was listening.
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#19How long does it take to rebuild fiber infrastructure? This is not a kindness, it is a promotion. Six months would be a kindness.
It's for disaster relief efforts, not to provide the monopolies who will be rebuilding the infrastructure a free pass.
Re: Starlink offering free internet access for 30 days for Hurricane Helene victims
#20I hope we can focus on the human kindness that Starlink is showing and ignore the political overtones. Both Trump and the current administration are creating the impression that it was their idea. Maybe Elon or Starlink thought of it first? It doesn't really matter. Let's all just do what we can to help the hurricane victims.
Most of the comments so far about the nuts and bolts usage. The downside of talking about not expressing "political overtones" is that you did bring it up, and I honestly don't even know exactly what those "political overtones" would be anyhow as it relates to this story specifically anyhow.
The political spin is in the article.
Edit: I was referring to this article: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-spoke-musk-ab...
I originally thought the HN post linked to that article, but I see now it was only in a comment. Sorry!