House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is spearheading a defense of Elon Musk, who has recently embraced his alliance to the Republican party fully endorsing Donald Trump, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoked a series of contracts for Starlink, the satellite-based internet provider he founded.
In a letter to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenwocel, Comer said the Committee is investigating the revocation of contracts to receive "broadband deployment subsidies through the Rural Digital opportunity Fund (RDOF)." "The Committee seeks information from the FCC to ensure that the Commission followed established processes and is not improperly using the regulatory process for political purposes," adds a passage of the letter, highlighting that the impact of Hurricane Helene "illustrates the importance of expanding broadband access to rural areas."
🚨 Chairman Comer Probes FCC Decision to Revoke Starlink Funds pic.twitter.com/vrubPU7NkG
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) October 7, 2024
Comer went on to recall that "in 2020 the FCC awarded SpaceX's Starlink $885.5 million through RDOF" but two years later it rejected its "long-form application to receive funding through RDOF on the basis that the FCC 'cannot afford to subsidize ventures that are not delivering the promised speeds or are not likely to meet program requirements."
Musk has claimed that the revoking of the contract has impaired the company's work in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and, had it not "illegally" done so, "it would have probably saved lives in North Carolina."
The letter claims that, despite the decision, FCC Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington have spoken against the Commission's decision." "Commissioner Carr has argued that the FCC is now among a 'growing list of administrative agencies that are taking action against Elon Musk's businesses.' The FCC must ground its decision-making in law and not politics," Comer added.
In that context, the Committee has given the FCC until October 21 to provide a series of related documents, including "information provided by Starlink to the FCC in support of its long-form application;" "communications regarding the FCC's initial decision to award Starlkin broadband deployment subsidies through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund;" and the decision to "deny Starlink broadband deployment subsidies through" the program.
The mogul reacted to the publication of the letter on his social media platform, X, saying "Great!" Musk has fully embraced the Republican Party over the year, endorsing Donald Trump and even joining him in a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania over the weekend. In an interview with Tucker Carlson on Monday he admitted he's been "trashing Kamala non-stop."
Musk also cited a now deleted post in which he stated that no one is even trying to assassinate Kamala, because it's pointless. "They'll just spawn another puppet," he adds. Musk deleted the self-described joke after some interpreted it as encouraging an attempt on the Vice President's life.
"That's hilarious," Carlson responds before redirecting the conversation back to what potential repercussions Musk fears if Trump is not elected this November. "In the hopefully unlikely event that he loses, there may be some vengeance on me," Musk claims.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
