House Bill Could Open Appalachian Broadband Funds to Starlink

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2025 – A new House bill could open the door for Starlink and other low-Earth orbit satellite providers to secure federal broadband funding through one of Appalachia’s primary economic development agencies.

Introduced by Rep. David Taylor, R-Ohio, the Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act would require the Government Accountability Office to assess whether the Appalachian Regional Commission can incorporate satellite-based broadband into its infrastructure grant programs.

Under Taylor’s bill, the GAO would have 90 days to deliver a report to Congress evaluating: the capacity of LEO satellite service for business use; economic development outcomes in areas currently using LEO satellites; and the cost-effectiveness of satellite deployments compared to other technologies.