Posted on by

After backlash, Elon Musk’s Starlink extends free service for hurricane victims until 2024

After backlash, Elon Musk’s Starlink extends free service for hurricane victims until 2024

Milton Recovery: Storm chasers assess the damage

Power and other utilities were slowly being restored across Florida on Friday after Hurricane Milton made landfall on the Gulf Coast, flooding neighborhoods and spawning deadly tornadoes. The death toll rose on Friday, with at least ten people dying in the storm. At peak times, more than 4 million customers in the state were without power. Milton also flooded barrier islands, ripped off the roof of a baseball stadium, and toppled a construction crane. Mike Boylan joins LiveNOW from FOX to show the damage he’s seeing on the ground.

LOS ANGELES – Amid criticism of its original offer, SpaceX has improved its Starlink contract for residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Originally, the company only offered a month of free service to people living in hurricane-affected areas. However, this plan required the purchase of a $349 Starlink antenna, and after that the regular service fees would have applied again.

After backlash from the public, media and government officials, SpaceX announced Friday that it would now offer free Starlink service to both new and existing customers in hurricane-affected areas through the end of the year.

“For those impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, Starlink service is now free through the end of the year to assist with response and recovery efforts,” the company said.

Costs and criticism

While Starlink’s offering was intended to help those recovering from devastating storms, many found the $349 cost of the courts and $120 monthly fee unreasonable, especially since traditional internet services could be restored, before Starlink dishes could even arrive.

SpaceX says delivery times could take up to three weeks if you don’t already have a Starlink kit – far too long for some to benefit from the service during the critical recovery phase.

Starlink internet connection devices will be donated to victims of Hurricane Helene.

To address these concerns, SpaceX has reduced its monthly fee for the remainder of 2024 and said that users will be notified before billing resumes in January 2025. However, after the free period, customers will automatically be moved to a personal subscription unless further renewals are made as required by ongoing recovery efforts.

Access the free service

Existing Starlink users in affected areas can use the free service by submitting a customer support ticket to request fee waivers. New customers can purchase a Starlink meal through the Starlink website or authorized retailers such as Best Buy or Home Depot to access the service.

FCC involvement

In addition to SpaceX’s efforts, the FCC also jump in to help hurricane victims by offering discounted phone and broadband services. This will ensure that those who cannot afford full-price services will continue to have access to essential communication tools as the recovery continues.

The source:

This information is based on an Associated Press report and official statements from SpaceX. Further details can be found on the Starlink website and through authorized retailers.