House Oversight Chairman Comer Probes FCC Decision to Revoke Starlink Funds

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to reaffirm its revocation of an award authorizing Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s Starlink 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. The devasting impact of Hurricane Helene—and the millions of Americans stranded without cell service or power—illustrates the importance of expanding broadband access to rural areas and using innovative technologies to do so. To assist the Committee’s oversight in this matter, we request the following documents and communications, as soon as possible but no later than October 21, 2024.

1. All documents and information provided by Starlink to the FCC in support of its long-form application;
2. All documents and communications regarding the FCC’s initial decision to award Starlink broadband deployment subsidies through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund;
3. All documents and communications regarding the FCC’s decision to deny Starlink broadband deployment subsidies through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund;
4. All documents and communications regarding the FCC’s decision to reaffirm its choice to not award Starlink broadband deployment subsidies through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund; and
5. All documents and communications between FCC personnel regarding Elon Musk, the acquisition of X (formerly known as Twitter), and Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (or SpaceX), and Starlink, between December 2020 and the present.