As Hurricane Helene victims continue to struggle to try and rebuild their lives, an apparent “savior” appears on the scene. Elon Musk and his satellite-based internet service offered “free” internet access to those in need. Mainstream and local media quickly picked up on Musk’s generosity. But is Musk really offering free hurricane internet aid, or is this just a sharp business move? Locals suggest the richest man in the world may have mixed motives.
Free hurricane internet aid comes with monetary catch
Earlier this month, the Starlink Twitter account declared, “Starlink is now free for 30 days.” Tens of millions of folks tuned in to the declaration. The company crowed, Starlink equipment would work “without [the] need for payment in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene.” That’s great, if you already have the Starlink equipment. If you don’t, here’s the catch: You have to pay for the Starlink terminal to get that one month of free service.
So just how much do folks, already hit hard with mass property destruction, have to pony up for a Starlink terminal? The regular price for the terminal is $350, but a disaster relief discount brings that down to $299. But tack on shipping and tax, and the total ring-up is a little south of $400.
For those in the hurricane zone who already have Starlink service, the company ostensibly offers a free month. To get it, the existing customer will have to create a support ticket and ask for the waiver. Starlink will examine the request at a later time. So much for the promise that all in the hurricane affected areas will get Starlink service “without the need for payment.”
“A crafty, bait and switch”
Internet technology site, The Register says not everyone is impressed by Musk’s glowing humanitarian efforts. The site quotes a Boone, North Carolina, resident, Kinney Baughman, who calls the Starlink offer “a crafty, bait and switch … meant to take advantage of people instead of helping them.”
Baughman is a college professor and an IT expert. He told The Register, “There may be isolated scenarios when what [Musk] is offering will be a service. But we’re talking about cases where someone’s way up a holler, doesn’t have access to cell service, and where the flooding has broken their fiber. You’re looking at months before you get service. In that case you might want to think about [Starlink].”
Kinney Baughman added, “He’s pitching it to a broad audience that, hey, I’ll give you free internet.” He added that the offer certainly isn’t free, and called it “a play on the desperation” of folks reeling from the disaster, and, as The Register adds, “a PR drive over little.”
To get hurricane internet aid, you need internet access
All that aside, just setting up a Starlink account in the disaster area could prove a bit difficult. To sign up for any Starlink account, “free” or not, you need to have internet access. The Register had one of its editors try out Musk’s offer. The editor went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here’s a lift from The Register as to how it went.
“Like everyone else using what little phone battery was left, I navigated with SOS bars and no connectivity to starlink.com/activate only to see that it wasn’t actually free,” she said. “I could connect to an active webpage in the middle of nowhere, which really says hey, data connectivity could actually be working again, but not for you with Starlink unless you pony up. It was insult to injury for many here who thought Free Internet Space Magic was real.”
The cost for the editor, once she finally made contact to the system, turned out to be just a little less than $400.
For those who can afford $400 to get a month of free service, what happens next? For those who live in areas where the UPS truck can deliver the Starlink kit, the damage may not be so bad that they might expect their regular internet service to be restored fairly soon. So, basically, a month of free internet service only costs them $400. For those in “off the beaten path” areas, Musk will be harvesting plenty of monthly subscribers after that free month is gone.
##RVT1178b
One might think that most would know in advance that Elmo isn’t about to give anything away.
Hi, John. Did you really mean Elmo? Or do you want me to change it to Elon? Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
He probably wouldn’t be expected to if FEMA had the $1,490,000,000.00 of taxpayer money that was spent on housing illegals, feeding illegals and free medical care for 12,000,000 new illegals in 3 years. Pardon me, I mean “Newcomers”. Maybe FEMA could have covered these costs for these poor people that have been devastated by nature’s fury and gaslit by their Gov’t. Nothin to see here folks, everyone is happy.
No disrespect John but there’s a huge difference between being “helped out” and a “hand out”.
Elon offered free internet for 30 days. You buy the hardware and get 30 days free connectivity. If after 30 days you can return the hardware for a full refund. StarLink will even provide the return shipping at no charge.
Consumers make choices. They can choose land based Internet Service Providers, Cellular or Satellite. Is it Musk’s fault they didn’t choose StarLink before the storm wiped out their choices?
I’m on StarLink right now. I bought my hardware and pay $165 a month. Does Musk owe me free internet if Cox Cable goes down?
Hope this helps reframe your thoughts sir
Also there are volunteers setting up hundreds of starlinks for people to use at local Churches. I believe they are no charge for use and Musk is donating the use of them.
You are right. Private helicopters were delivering the starlink dishes to the fire departments and community buildings in the stricken communities so they could establish communication with the outside world to verify needed help, give loved one news of survival etc!!!! So Musk provided something that no one else could!
Well RnT, I guess that’s 1 way to look at it.
Here is another: A public RFP for broadband services, in those very same rural areas was issued by the Federal Gov. 2 years ago for all of the communications companies to bid on. Starlink was the only bidder and still did not get the contract to hook up those areas. Hmmmm, I blame the FCC or this administration for the problem of connectivity as a result of…. wait for it….POLITICS.
Here is another: How many Verizon Hotspots have been donated or discounted without service agreements? T-Mobile? AT&T? Sprint? Hughesnet?
Google phones without contracts? Motorola? Apple I-Phones? Taxes on the $295.00? Delivery?
Continued:
Also, I didn’t realize that Elon was in charge of disaster relief? I thought that was FEMA’s job along with the Administration in power? I’m pretty sure the billion dollars he has written off in Ukraine for unpaid Starlink support is pretty high in the contributions list in the European theatre. If he writes off $100.00 each for a million people in the Southern States, that’s a $100,000,000 of lost revenue. How much has Bezos contributed? Gates? Soros? Obama? Howard Stern? JB Pritzker?
Thanks Cancel for your responses. I’ve been waiting to be better informed before voicing any opinions.
Elon just seems to be offering his services and equipment to whom ever may need it. He can’t be everywhere, nor know everything, regarding any existing infrastructures available at any given time..
My pleasure Bill. My comments are not to imply that a secondary motivation for Musk does not exist. Clearly one does but two things can be true at the same time and all of those rural areas could have already be connected with Starlink had the government, which has been promising rural broadband upgrades for 15 or 20 years, followed thru with Elon’s winning bid would we be here now? Given that they have not and those areas are in the middle of a crisis, does it now constitute an obligation on Musks part to compensate for the failings of the ruling class? How does govt failure get laid at Musk’s feet at all? Yes, he is rich, and so is Bill Gates. So what?
Happy trails Bill.
Someday indeed, we will sit around that camp fire, with a cold beer in our hands, and finally solve all of these problems of the world..😎 Cheers!
Hi, Bill and Cancel. I’ll bring the s’mores ingredients. Yep, beer and s’mores, campfire and good company. Sounds good to me.👍 (Mind if I crash your party? Haven’t done that for almost 60 years.🤣) 🤗🤗 –Mountain Mama
You’d always be welcome !!
Aww, thanks, Bill. And, guess what? I wouldn’t even “moderate” what anyone says. Y’all can say whatever you want.😉😅 BTW, I have a T-shirt that I bought to wear to an in-person meeting here one time. It says, “I’m silently correcting your grammar.” Yep, I wore it once and then put it away. But it was fun for a few seconds when the 4 other folks at the meeting first saw it, anyway. Have a great day.🤗 –Diane
DW has a coffee cup that says
“Sorry, I rolled my eyes out loud again”
Enjoy your day as well!! 🙂
🤣 Thanks, Bill. Will do.👍 –Diane
I want a shirt like that!
Google it. They’re all over the place, with lots of different styles. Have a great day, Grumpy. 😀 –Diane
👍
I was going to offer to send you mine, Grumpy, but it’s buried somewhere and I couldn’t find it right offhand, so I just decided to suggest you Google it. There are so many options to choose from, and most are not expensive. (I think mine was $14.) Have a great day. 😀 –Diane
My oldest sister bought our middle sister a shirt that said that…she’s always doing that.
Reply to Cancel, Bill and Diane! Please let me know when and where this beer and events review is going to be held. I wouldn’t miss it if at all possible. Thanks!
PS: Don’t moderate it Di., plan it!
Hi, DW. It won’t be moderated, that’s for sure. Getting plenty of that this weekend (although I’m not deleting as many comments as I probably should–others are taking care of that). I was just kidding about crashing their party, but I’m sure if Bill and Cancel get together sometime that you’d be more than welcome there. Right, guys? Y’all have a great day. 😀 –Diane
Ahhh! We need your learned input from the thousands of source comments you can draw from – by memory!
Ha! I’m at the advanced age where my long-term memory is much better than short-term. Plus, I’d be too busy roasting marshmallows and stuffing my face with s’mores to contribute much to a conversation. I’ll just listen, thank you. Have a good afternoon/evening, DW.🤗 –Diane
Well DW, im guessing in the coming spring and somewhere west of the Continental divide. Pacific NW ensures D might make it.
Happy trails.
👍😉 Have a good evening/night, CP.🤗 –Diane
You will be included in the gathering when ever it may happen..
How dare you frame your “NEWS HEADLINE” in that context! A story circulated a few weeks ago about an entrepreneur that purchased ten Harbor Freight generators and took them to a storm stricken area and offered them for twice what he paid for them. The local officials were outraged. He was arrested, his generators were confiscated, and the needy people did not get relief.
So what if Elon expects to partially recoup his costs? Shame on you for framing your story to make him look like a bad guy. Nobody else was there the next day to help.
Did you by chance happen to notice that the much touted “$750 to everyone” is actually a loan and only available to one per household?
Hi, Gsmith. Sorry you were so upset by that post. Regarding your final sentence, did you happen to check before you wrote that the “‘$750 to everyone’ is actually a loan”? No, I didn’t think so. It is NOT a loan. Here’s what CNN.com reported based on info from FEMA, in part: “That $750 is what’s called ‘Serious Needs Assistance.’ It’s an up-front, direct payment to survivors, intended to get them money to buy whatever they might need after their home has been destroyed. This $750 payment is thanks to a relatively new federal program, implemented in March of this year. It can be delivered via direct deposit to a bank or a preloaded debit card, can be used to buy clothing, baby formula, food, shelter, or whatever else a person may need after a disaster. And counter to rumors, this money is not a loan; it is for disaster survivors to keep and spend. Importantly, those funds are just the first part of assistance individuals are eligible for after a storm – not the total.” Have a good night. 🙂 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Shakespeare described Musk’s “offer” pretty well centuries ago. It is “full of sound and fury, signifying … nothing.” If anything, it is the equivalence of a scam that will deprive those in need and benefit Musk. Thanks for the warning, have a great day, and safe travels! :-
I continue to be astounded that people like you can see and read all the comments here and continue to be oblivious to what is going on! You really don’t get it! 😕
Sorry, Kara. Will try harder. Appreciate the encouragement. I do often “see” things others don’t though and fail to “see” what others do. Have a great week and safe travels!
Thank you Cancelproof for correcting the misinformation of this article.
It’s been awhile since we have seen a hit piece on Elon Musk in this publication. This one made up for it however.
Turns out Starlink will get much of the business now by going around the authorities as a result of Helene. It likely would have been cheaper for the end users if the government had simply done the job they were elected to do but alas, politics got in the way of high speed connectivity for those rural areas AGAIN. Free Market to the rescue, AGAIN but not before Beta Mayor Pete tried to stand in the way of self-reliant Alphas seeking news, information and the ability to communicate with friends, family and neighbors.
Typical of writers looking from the outside and not researching the details through, while trying to find someone to make the bad guy. Has anyone ever considered the billions of dollars it costs to develop a launch system like Falcon and then build out an internet network for most of the world by sending up thousands of satellites? Being the richest person in the world(if he really is), doesn’t mean Elon has billions of cash in the bank that he’s been robbing from customers. Like most all new businesses, large and small, the owners and developers wealth is sitting in debt, and in assets they had acquire to create their businesses. Start with the Feds if you to find who to blame.
I knew from the headline that this would be another Russ and Tina hit piece. We get it.You don’t like Elon or Electric cars. Move on.
And you do yay!
Thanks for a very true comment
Of course, Musk is taking advantage of a bad situation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be a smart businessman.
Starlink has extended Free Service through the end of year for those effected by hurricanes.
Well there seems to be a disconnect between reality and fiction in this piece of “news”. This piece of information has more hate in between the lines than an article about Marcus Lemonis.
Mr.Musk has said anyone inside the designated area is free through the rest of the year not just the “free 30 days”
🤔 Hmmmm, now why wouldn’t the authors mention that piece of GOOD news. Well, it doesn’t fit the Nat’l Enquirer writing style.
Purveyor of misinformation perhaps.
Elon doesn’t have a humanitarian bone in his body. He could have provided terminals for free WiFi to every small city/village to set up without so much as a nick in his profits. 3 to 6 months would be more reasonable.
And exactly what “humanitarian bone” did you use to help?
It is an option for those who feel they need it. The author of this article is pretty pessimistic. I have starlink and yes I had to layout an initial fee. I wasn’t crazy about it but my reception to the internet improved greatly. Before you bash a company when they make an offer, you probably need to do a little more research instead of being a “Debbie Downer”.
Unless AI was used to generate this article, maybe the authors better learn that research is critical prior to writing a hit piece. Or the plank may swing the other way.
Musk may have an ulterior motive. So what!? It sure appears to be a win win in my opinion. Smart business in a time of true need when the govt and others do nothing.
So if Exxon offered free fuel, would Kinney Baughman whine about how they didn’t provide cars, generators and trucks to put it in?
If Verizon offered free cell service, would he complain it “adds to their burden” because they didn’t get a free iPhone to go with it?
If the Home Depot offered free chain saw blade sharpening, would he write headlines about how those dirty bait and switch jerks didn’t provide the chain saws?
Ominously missing from this smear piece is StarLink’s 30 day free trial guarantee. Yeah, they can return the hardware after 30 days of use for a FULL REFUND if they don’t want to keep it. That means free everything for 30 days. Facts complicate bigots.
You could just as easily malign government for not waiving the sales tax on Starlinks used for emergency relief. You could also bad-mouth shippers for not waiving shipping fees.
Who pee’d in your Post Toasties? Take a break from the negativism and look for the good and I suspect you’ll find it.
Another biased article. I’ve gotten sick and tired of your articles that hold no truth you should be ashamed of yourself. I have now unsubscribed from your biased publication. I noticed you have Facebook at the top of your page. Guess you really love the little peon zucker boy.
Not taking your comment at face value. But it’s likely more accurate than this one.
Is Musk taking advantage of a bad situation… YES! But at the same time, he is trying to help. No matter what his detractors would like to hype.
Nice hit piece. Unnecessarily critical and judgmental IMHO. My name is Karen so I’m very familiar with unwarranted digs.
Worst hit job article I have ever seen on this site. Dump this writing team FGS! It’s not a good look for RVT! They don’t contribute anything worth reading on this otherwise excellent RV site.
It’s whiners like this that discourage people from helping out. Tell me, who else has stepped up to provide a similar connectivity where there is none? Verizon, AT&T, anyone? No, because they didn’t invest the billions it took to develop that capability. Musk, through Starlink, didn’t have to do anything. When he does step up, your narrow mindset only allows you to see it through a negative filter. Well folks, I can filter too.
I agree that this article shows a bit of bias against Elon Musk. It is a shame that one would criticize his efforts to help those in need. Yes, many do not have Starlink & many can’t afford to buy the equipment but why attack Musk for doing what he can to help? It is not realistic to suggest that he should provide all that have been affected by Helene with a Starlink kit, He is simply offering to provide some assistance. As others here have commented, one should not attack him for trying to do some good as limited as it may be!
I would agree with many comments here about your negativity about this. You two always seem create drama in an article. Why not just take Musk’s offer at face value?
Journalist should never take anything at face value.
That’s the problem with journalists, they don’t take anything at face value, unless they wrote it.
Journalists?🤣🤣
Touché 🤣
I cannot believe this article is appearing here a second time. Surely rv content is not that hard to find. Does anyone at RV Travel read the comments to articles? This is nothing more then repeated misinformation!
Russ and Tina–don’t let the ba#%&^ds get you down:-)
How very tolerant of you. Why can’t we just all be more like Christine everyone?
Exactly! The divide is obvious…but most of us commenting “get it”…🇺🇸
Congratulations Elon for your services. No other internet/data/cell service provider stepped up to help, you did. Some will use this as political ploy since your endorsement, so be it, but none the less, you stepped up to help and I applaud you for such. And as a business move, I see no problem with it as there is no contractual agreement demanded.
Several areas received FREE kits. People in the area with them get the rest of the year free service and many had opened their starlinks to everyone in the area. YES they have to get within range of the kit. https://www.starlink.com/support/article/58126733-e4d2-db62-b919-9da261a4e096
The kit was on sale for $299 from mid Aug until 5 Oct. I bought mine the day they went on sale at that price at a Home Depot across from the campground I was staying at in Portland. I went in expecting to pay $499 and thought the price was wrong then read it was on sale.
I HATE misinformation being spread in RV newsletters.
Of course, this helps to promote the Starlink business. But you can’t deny, that it also shows that Musk has heart. More than can be said for our government.
No the government isn’t doing jack. But you go ahead and trust them.
Thank you Vanessa! We need more “first hand” knowledge! 🇺🇸
🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
As far as available info, the current plan is to the end of the year. Don’t know the other details. RV Travel needs to stay current on these news items. Unless of course, you have some other agenda?
Of course they do
There’s the door.
After reading the FEMA article, and now this one–both biased and seemingly politically motivated, I’m willing to bet on who the authors will be voting for in the upcoming election.
Do yourselves a favor, if you really want to keep half of your readers/paying members on board, keep politics out of RVT Newsletters. It’s not good for business.
Touche!
One of the worse articles I’ve read on this site. Biased and not accurate.
I noticed RVtravel is on X…perhaps Russ & Tina could have done some research there and provide readers a more useful and informative article. Tucker Carlson’s interview with Elon provides some information on bringing Starlink in to find people.
At one time, not so long ago he was the darling of the left. That is of course right up until that moment in time that he made Twitter a place for open and uncensored dialogue.
All of that aside Kara, I have enjoyed reading your comments and replies to the same. You are very well informed and very articulate.
Stay well. 🇺🇲
CP
Thank you, CP, for your kind words! You made my day! I truly appreciate your personal interactions! 🤗 I devour comments in hopes of finding others who simply want this madness we are all living in to stop! …I must say…I always look to see what you have to say! 😃💜 🇺🇸
Kara
I live in Western North Carolina and we were devastated by hurricane Helene. We were all so grateful when we could use a Starlink hot spot that was set up around the corner. The whole neighborhood brought folding chairs and connected to the outside world. We could tell our families that we are alive! I think what Elon Musk did was AWESOME!! I’m also very tempted to get Starlink.
Keep the faith Jamie. Your family and entire community are in our prayers.
I just wish your post came earlier but I guess until you had a Starlink connection you could not post. Some journalistic curiosity and fairness may have been in order too but journalistic misinformation is the order of the day.
Thank you, Jamie, for sharing! Your comment invalidates the article with Truth! We need more of that! Hearing that your neighborhood rallied together shows the American Spirit is live and well! 💜🇺🇸 Sending you a hug and hoping your recovery goes well! 🤗
How in the world does it “invalidate the article”?