Starlink Funding Scramble

According to a report, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reportedly directed staff to identify millions of dollars in savings to fund a contract with SpaceX's Starlink to provide internet services for air traffic control facilities in remote areas of Alaska. The FAA faced pressure from Congress, particularly Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, to improve internet connectivity for these facilities, which currently rely on outdated and unreliable satellite systems. The report indicates that the FAA was instructed to reallocate funds from existing projects and programs to cover the Starlink deal. This internal directive raised concerns among some FAA employees who questioned the prioritization and potential impact on other agency initiatives. The urgency to secure Starlink services stemmed from the need to replace aging infrastructure and improve communication reliability for air traffic controllers in Alaska, particularly during challenging weather conditions. The exact value of the Starlink contract is not specified, but it requires the FAA to identify and redirect a substantial amount of funding. The decision highlights the growing reliance on satellite internet services in remote areas and the challenges government agencies face in securing and funding these solutions. The move underscores the pressure on the FAA to modernize its infrastructure and address connectivity issues in critical operational areas, especially in geographically challenging regions like Alaska. find the original article here: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/faa-reportedly-ordered-staff-to-find-millions-of-dollars-to-fund-starlink-deal-205236985.html