This is why you also have laws in place to protect the core functioning of an entity. It’s why even with an absolute hack trying to undermine it, the USPS still delivered mail almost completely uninterrupted (despite the losing of sorting machines, which was about all that stooge could do to hinder the USPS).

I’d much rather federal and local municipalities run fiber options. If you’re using a utility pole, you should be subject to utility regulations full stop. And compared to having a locally monopolistic private corporation that has much more unilateral freedom to do super shady shit, I’d really prefer an entity that at least can have government oversight and associated required disclosures.

Even while Trump's idiot was in charge, tampering with the mail was a federal offense.

And I don't imagine it being totally public. USPS would own the network, and companies would pay them to sell access. This would allow dozens of ISPs, all offering different levels of service, without needing local monopolies. It would look a lot like dial up ISPs: You could use AOL, EarthLink, NetZero, or any of a handful of small, local ISPs.

The USPS would then contract with companies to maintain the networks, but since they own it they can regulate the ISPs a lot more closely on a host of issues. Plus it would give free access to all online government services.

DeJoy was appointed by the USPS board of governors, not Trump. He's still in charge. You'll notice that mail in voting worked and Trump lost, and also that even with a hideous bucket of fuck like DeJoy doing his best to cripple it in order to drive business to UPS and FedEx the USPS still delivers more places, faster and cheaper than all it's competitors. USPS is strong. It should function as a mail service, an official part of the electoral system and it's function as a bank should be restored. I wouldn't be mad if it ended up running a significant backbone of the US internet as well.

Which will not happen in private hands always trying to get a monopoly even if only locally.

So level the playing field. Public infrastructure for all, let companies provide the last meters and/or the service only.

Why is that funny?

If I was in a situation where starlink was only option for connectivity, sure, but at the front lines cell service isn't really reliable as whole towers are missing and/or damaged and even if the cell tower was there it's not a quarantee that it's connected to anything or has power. Starlink doesn't require a (literal) ton of infrastructure on the ground around you and that's why it's been really useful, and often the only option, Ukraine has.

Starlink as a technology is really cool and when it came to the market I hoped I would get to play with it some day, but now as the company is ran by that twat who shovels DoD money into his own pockets and is on his knees for russians the interest and 'geek factor' isn't really there anymore.