We would have to see the actual bids, and the scoring criteria. Cost wasn’t the ONLY factor. I assume 5 Gbps symmetric fiber got extra points compared to 100/20 LEO. Plus we don’t know how the LEO companies bid, did they offer to reserve capacity for the whole state?
I’m imagining a scoring algorithm that seeks to achieve 100% coverage of the state within the amount of BEAD money allocated to the state, using high speed symmetric fiber as much as possible, but substituting LEO in the areas that either got zero fiber bids or had the highest per location cost for fiber. Also some guess as to what could get approved by NTIA. From: AF <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jason McKemie Sent: Friday, October 3, 2025 10:13 AM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] how will BEAD subsidize LEO? I'm still confused as to how anywhere got funded for fiber if LEO is available. According the rules, the per location cost was the most important factor. Yet there are some fiber projects that evidently beat out LEO. On Fri, Oct 3, 2025, 9:37 AM Steve Jones <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: It's a definite win for taxpayers either way On Fri, Oct 3, 2025, 7:37 AM Mark Radabaugh <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: In the big picture do you think Amazon or Starlink really care if they actually get paid? The money is a drop in the bucket for a worldwide LEO system. It’s more risk to them having fiber funded to all of these locations. This feels more like a defensive play than anything. If they get some government money out of it (in their view) it’s great, and if they don’t and can keep fiber out, they get money anyway. For the LEO providers this is a win, win, or win big. If they have to forfeit some money in the end, do they really care? Mark On Oct 2, 2025, at 12:41 PM, Jesse DuPont <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: The other challenge for LEO is they don't get to reduce their Letter of Credit or Bond amounts until they have subscribers that meet milestones (not just having covered BSLs, but actual subscribers). So they'll be motivated to get people to sign up, whatever that looks like. -- AF mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
-- AF mailing list [email protected] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
