Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, expressed frustration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday, stating that the agency’s decision to revoke a grant for SpaceX’s Starlink program may have contributed to loss of life in North Carolina during Hurricane Helene.

Elon Musk CEO of SpaceX, speaks to the media during a press conference after the Falcon Heavy Launch on Feb 6, 2018, at the Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Musk responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that pointed out how nearly 20,000 Starlink internet kits could have been available to help residents in North Carolina if the FCC had not rescinded the grant.

“Had the FCC not illegally revoked the SpaceX Starlink award, it would probably have saved lives in North Carolina,” Musk wrote. “Lawfare costs lives.”

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Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Florida’s Big Bend region and caused widespread devastation throughout the Southeast, including North Carolina, which was hit particularly hard.

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The storm has claimed at least 170 lives across six states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.

The loss of communications in many rural areas hampered recovery efforts.

In 2020, SpaceX’s Starlink, a satellite-based internet service, was awarded $885 million by the FCC to help expand broadband access in rural areas across the United States.

However, in 2022, the FCC rescinded the award, citing concerns that Starlink would not be able to meet the program’s requirements for providing high-speed internet in a cost-effective manner.

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This decision was reaffirmed by the FCC in December 2023.

A spokesperson for the FCC defended the agency’s decision, stating, “Chairwoman Rosenworcel stands by the FCC’s thorough review of a program meant to provide long-term access to reliable and affordable broadband in rural communities.”

The spokesperson further emphasized that the agency denied funding to more than a dozen companies, not just Starlink, for failing to meet the program’s requirements. “The FCC takes seriously its obligation to ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to entities that fully comply with the rules and the law.”

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who has been critical of the decision to block SpaceX from receiving the grant, told FOX Business, “There is no question that communities across the country would be in a materially better position today, in terms of connectivity, if the government had not unlawfully revoked the 2020 award Starlink lawfully won.”

Carr suggested that political motivations may have influenced the FCC’s decision, pointing to Joe Biden’s previous comments regarding Musk’s relationships with other countries and the regulatory scrutiny Musk’s businesses have faced.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, residents in western North Carolina, where historic flooding damaged roads, bridges, and communication infrastructure, are still struggling to restore basic services.

Former President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had spoken with Musk to discuss providing Starlink to impacted areas, as many residents had lost all forms of communication due to the storm.

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The White House responded to these efforts, with spokesperson Andrew Bates posting on X that FEMA was already working to provide Starlink systems.

By Wednesday, Bates confirmed that 67 Starlink systems had been deployed to North Carolina to aid recovery efforts.

FEMA announced that it had provided 50 Starlink satellite systems to help emergency responders restore communication. Starlink also reported that approximately 500 kits have either arrived or are en route to regions impacted by Hurricane Helene.

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In addition, Musk confirmed that Starlink was offering free service in affected areas regardless of payment status to ensure residents and responders could stay connected during the recovery.

While communications are gradually being restored, the dispute over the FCC’s decision to revoke Starlink’s grant continues to generate debate, particularly over how rural communities could have benefited from satellite internet access during such a critical time.

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