(Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)
As SpaceX faces criticism over its “free” Starlink deal for hurricane victims, the company is improving the offer by dropping the monthly service charge for the rest of the year.
"For those impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, Starlink service is now free through the end of the year to help with response and recovery efforts," the company announced Friday.
A week ago, SpaceX began offering one month of free Starlink access for residents living in hurricane-ravaged areas. The offer applies to new and existing customers, but you need a Starlink dish, which costs $349.
"A Starlink kit is required to access this free service. If you do not already have a Starlink kit, you will need to purchase one from starlink.com/residential or an authorized retailer such as Best Buy or Home Depot," SpaceX says in a customer support article.
If you order a dish, however, Starlink says it could take three weeks to arrive. By then, ground-based internet access may be restored.
(Credit: Starlink.com)Initially, SpaceX was going to charge its usual $120-per-month internet fee after the one-month free trial, which is significantly higher than the average home broadband bill. As a result, SpaceX faced backlash in the press, on social media, and even from government officials for allegedly running a scam to drive revenue.
Today, the company updated its support page to say, "Starlink is available and temporarily offering free service until the end of the year" in areas affected by Helene and Milton. Existing users can also take advantage of the benefit if they live in a hurricane-affected area by submitting a customer support ticket to Starlink.
“At the end of the year, we will move you to a paid Residential subscription, tied [to] the location you are using it in at that time. We will reevaluate as necessary based on conditions in the area. Starlink will notify you as the end of the year approaches to remind you of the change,” the company’s support document adds.
The FCC is also helping hurricane victims to receive discounted phone and broadband service.