On Thu, 16 Jul 2020 03:14:11 +0000 (UTC)

jim bell <jdb10987@yahoo.com> wrote:

>> www.Tesmanian.com: FCC approves the operation of 'Starlink Router' for SpaceX's internet.
> >https://www.tesmanian.com/blogs/tesmanian-blog/starlink-router-fcc
>> Hopefully, soon enough, nations won't be able to censor their populations' access to the internet.

> wow - infinitely hilarious. Hey Jim are you posting that as an example of infinitely idiotic US nazi propaganda? Or do you happen to believe, like a good randroid, that musk is a poor oppressed capitalist fighting for 'freedom'?

I posted it because I think it is an important development that Cypherpunks should be aware of. We don't have to believe that Elon Musk is somehow idealogically-pure, to realize that what he is accomplishing will become important in the future. Most people's Internet access is ultimately limited by whether the government of the region they live in tolerates it. Fortunately, in the large number of regions the government-in-power doesn't seem to actively interfere with internet access. Not quite a monopoly, call it an oligopoly.

Elon Musk, by SpaceX, could accomplish a lot of good if he provides the means for anyone to get Internet access in regions where the government wants to restrict this. He might even offer the SpaceX internet service for free in some extreme cases, such as Iran, Cuba, North Korea. (the tiny ground-stations might have to be smuggled in.)

Jim Bell