20240223Application.pdf

Starlink Services, LLC | 1155 F Street, NW, Suite 475, Washington, DC 20004 | starlink.com
Aishani Shukla Regulatory Analyst
[e-mail]

February 23, 2024 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING
Monica Barrios-Sanchez Secretary of the Commission Idaho Public Utilities Commission
11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
Building 8, Suite 201-A Boise, ID 83714 Re: Case No. SSL-T-21-01 Application of Starlink Services, LLC for Designation as an
Eligible Telecommunications Carrier for Purposes for Receiving Rural Digital
Opportunities Fund Support (Order No. 35003) Dear Ms. Barrios-Sanchez,
Starlink Services, LLC (“Starlink”) was granted the above-captioned authorization
(“Authorization”) by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”) on April 16, 2021, and hereby requests to relinquish the Authorization. As referenced in its initial application, Starlink applied for the Authorization as a requirement of its winning bids in the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (“RDOF”) and the
scope of the Authorization was limited to the specific census blocks in which Starlink was to
receive RDOF support. As Starlink noted in its initial application, it applied for this authorization exclusively in connection with RDOF. Subsequently, the Wireline Competition Bureau (“Bureau”) denied Starlink’s RDOF “Long
Form” application1, Starlink appealed this Bureau decision to the FCC2, and the FCC later
affirmed the Bureau’s decision.3 As a result, Starlink will not receive any RDOF support to provide service in the state. Starlink is deeply disappointed and perplexed by the FCC’s decision to exclude the Starlink satellite broadband service from RDOF and this decision directly undermines the very goal of RDOF: to connect unserved and underserved Americans.4

1 See Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Auction Support for 80 Winning Bids Ready to Be Authorized, Bid Defaults Announced, AU Docket No. 20-34 et al., Public Notice, DA 22-848, at 8-11 (WCB/OEA Aug. 10, 2022).
2 See Application for Review of Starlink Services, LLC, WC Docket No. 10-90 (filed Sept. 9, 2022). 3 See Order on Review, WC Docket No. 10-90, et al. (rel. Dec. 12, 2023).
4 SpaceX’s response to these FCC actions is available on the FCC’s website. See Letter from Christopher Cardaci, Vice President, Legal, SpaceX, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, In re Long Form Application of Starlink Services, LLC, File No. 0009395128, WC Docket No. 19-126 (December 12, 2023), available at: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/121299238977/1.
RECEIVED
Friday, February 23, 2024 12:57PM
IDAHO PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
CASE NO. SSL-T-24-01

Starlink Services, LLC | 1155 F Street, NW, Suite 475, Washington, DC 20004 | starlink.com
As a result of these changes in circumstances since the Authorization was applied for and granted, Starlink Services respectfully requests to relinquish the Authorization. 47 U.S.C. § 214
(e)(4) establishes that an ETC may relinquish its authorization where an area is served by another
ETC or where existing customers will continue to be served. Starlink has never received universal services support, nor provided any broadband, voice, or other telecom services in the state.
Accordingly, there are no existing Starlink subscribers to consider in connection with
relinquishment of the Authorization, and Starlink respectfully requests expedited consideration of this request. Starlink notes that the unregulated Starlink-branded broadband service provided by Space Exploration Technologies Corp., a separate entity, remains available in the state and this request for relinquishment will have no impact on those subscribers.

Respectfully Submitted,
/s/ Aishani Shukla
Aishani Shukla, Regulatory Analyst