The LEO Controversy: What To Consider Before Allocating BEAD Funds to Satellite Internet

At times, low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet can be extremely useful. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, for example, many rushed to fund the establishment of free satellite services in areas cut off from internet or phone providers, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To provide temporary but immediate connectivity while teams worked to restore the region’s permanent communications infrastructure, federal funds rightfully went to LEOs.