The fine print reveals something different for Elon Musk’s “free” Starlink offer

When Starlink CEO Elon Musk announced on Oct. 1 that all residents in Hurricane Helene’s damage path would be eligible for 30 days of free service, many people didn’t consider the cost Purchased $349 worth of equipment.

On October 1, Musk tweeted that SpaceX was forcing a system update so that “all Starlinks in affected areas will function regardless of payment.”

Read more: T-Mobile will use Starlink for emergency alerts and text messaging during Hurricane Milton

Although Starlink also announced that it is deploying around 500 Starlink kits to the Appalachian Mountains – a region particularly devastated by Hurricane Helene – those who do not receive the kits from an organization will have to cover the cost of the equipment themselves. After 30 days, Starlink will upgrade you to a paid subscription and charge you the standard monthly service fee of $120.

Starlink’s Hurricane Helene help page provides detailed instructions for new or existing customers – including customers activating multiple kits at the same time. This page now includes a note reminding users that they need a Starlink kit to activate the 30-day service.

If you currently own a Starlink kit, you will need to log in and create a support ticket to receive the 30-day free subscription.

According to an Oct. 2 government news release, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Starlink worked together to deliver 67 Starlink kits to North Carolina, “including three Starlinks for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation and four Starlinks for critical lifeline locations.” Those who don’t receive Starlink kits from the government must purchase the $349 kit on the website or at a retailer such as Best Buy or Home Depot.

You can check whether your county is eligible for the free internet service by entering your address on Starlink’s website.

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm and devastated the Appalachian Mountains with flooding, landslides and power outages. Free Internet offers from Spectrum and offers from other providers can be an important lifeline for those who still have limited resources.