The FCC has granted Elon Musk’s Starlink “special temporary emergency authority” to provide cell phone coverage for areas devastated by Hurricane Helene. Starlink satellites will be able to provide direct-to-cell capability for those in the area.
“SpaceX and @TMobile have been given emergency special temporary authority by the @FCC to enable @Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability to provide coverage for cell phones in the affected areas of Hurricane Helene,” SpaceX posted. “The satellites have already been enabled and started broadcasting emergency alerts to cell phones on all networks in North Carolina. In addition, we may test basic texting (SMS) capabilities for most cell phones on the T-Mobile network in North Carolina. SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation has not been fully deployed, so all services will be delivered on a best-effort basis.”
Musk has been severely critical of the Biden-Harris administration’s response to the victims of Hurricane Helene, particularly in the mountainous region of western North Carolina. He has posted several times about the difficulties that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has posed to residents in the area even as it trumpets its top objective as being “equity.”
“Just received this note from a SpaceX engineer helping on the ground in North Carolina. @FEMA is not merely failing to adequately help people in trouble, but is actively blocking citizens who try to help! ‘Hey Elon, update here on site of Asheville, NC. We have powered up two large operating bases for choppers to deliver goods into hands. We’ve deployed 300+ starlinks and outpour is it has saved many lives.’” […]
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