The government funding is for "up to gigabit" meaning it excludes paying for 10 gbs fiber to some politically-connected wealthy rancher - they only get subsidized 1 gbs, boo-hoo.
If you're in extreme rural with only a few people per square mile, it would probably be cheaper to just build the fiber to their house
Putting up towers has knock-on benefits. People just driving through or visiting, workers, new developments all automatically get mobile internet. Outsiders getting internet while in the rural areas is a benefit to the local economy.
Starlink with no LTE coverage is worse than just having LTE. Your car breaks down and you're not going to care about that 5 ms faster ping time.
The government funding is for "up to gigabit" meaning it excludes paying for 10 gbs fiber to some politically-connected wealthy rancher - they only get subsidized 1 gbs, boo-hoo.
Putting up towers has knock-on benefits. People just driving through or visiting, workers, new developments all automatically get mobile internet. Outsiders getting internet while in the rural areas is a benefit to the local economy.
Starlink with no LTE coverage is worse than just having LTE. Your car breaks down and you're not going to care about that 5 ms faster ping time.