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Sep 2, 2024 • 5 min read

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Protests In Israel
FCC Denies SpaceX Grant Funding

Protests In Israel:

Massive protests erupted across Israel on Sunday, following the deaths of six hostages in Gaza, as public frustration mounted over the government's inability to secure a ceasefire that could potentially free the remaining captives. An estimated 400,000-700,000 people took to the streets in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other cities, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu do more to bring home the 101 hostages still held by Hamas. Demonstrators blocked streets and gathered outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, while in Tel Aviv, the city’s main highway was filled with people holding flags adorned with images of the slain hostages. The protests resulted in 29 arrests as police used water cannons to disperse crowds.
The Israeli military reported that the bodies of the six hostages were recovered from a tunnel in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. A forensic examination revealed that they had been killed by Hamas terrorists within the last 48 to 72 hours, murdered by close-range gunfire. Prime Minister Netanyahu, under increasing pressure to negotiate a ceasefire, vowed to bring those responsible to justice, stating that Israel would not rest until they were captured. Meanwhile, senior Hamas officials accused Netanyahu of being responsible for the deaths due to his refusal to agree to a ceasefire.
In Gaza, the violence continued even as a polio vaccination campaign began. Despite the ongoing conflict, Israel and Hamas agreed to pause fighting in certain areas of Gaza for eight hours daily to allow the vaccination of 640,000 children against polio. However, Israeli forces continued operations against Hamas militants, including targeting a Hamas command center in a former school in Gaza City. Throughout the day, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported 27 deaths in Gaza, with many others wounded as the conflict showed no signs of abating.

FCC Denies SpaceX Grant Funding:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently decided not to grant SpaceX $885 million in funding that was originally set aside to help expand high-speed internet in rural areas. SpaceX had won this funding in 2020 through its Starlink satellite internet service, with plans to provide internet to over 643,000 homes and businesses across 35 states. However, after a detailed review, the FCC determined that SpaceX didn’t meet all the necessary requirements, particularly when it came to delivering consistent internet speeds.
Even though SpaceX has launched over 6,000 satellites, which is the largest number any company or government has in orbit, the FCC was concerned about whether Starlink could consistently provide the required internet speeds. To receive the funding, the FCC expects services to deliver at least 100 Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads. Some tests showed that while Starlink’s service is improving, it might not always meet these speed requirements, which led the FCC to withhold the $885 million in funding.
SpaceX disagrees with this decision, arguing that Starlink is a strong option for providing internet in rural areas where traditional methods like cable or fiber optics are difficult to install. The company believes the FCC’s tests don’t fully reflect Starlink’s capabilities, especially as the network continues to grow and improve with more advanced satellites being launched regularly.
SpaceX Satellites in orbit: