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As Elon Musk likes to do whenever disaster hits somewhere in the world, Hurricane Helene was another opportunity to show off his generosity and make himself part of the news. This time, Musk made headlines with a promise that SpaceX Starlink would be free for 30 days to help in places where fiber and cellular infrastructure might have been knocked offline. More than 200 people have been identified as dead in the disaster.

But the catch is that it’s really not free at all. It really looks like not much more than a glorified new-customer promotion.

For one, anyone interested in taking up the offer still has to pay approximately $400 for the dish itself (including shipping and tax) and they’re getting automatically rolled into a $120 per-month contract when the free month ends.

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[-] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 203 points 3 weeks ago
[-] pacoo2454@lemmy.world 152 points 3 weeks ago

Sounds about right. Rich people don’t get rich by giving away hand outs. They get rich by being assholes.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 58 points 3 weeks ago

(including shipping and tax)

And I'm sure UPS will get your free $400 internet to you just as soon as services are restored and you won't need it.

[-] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 56 points 3 weeks ago

Fucking hell - Verizon, Sprint and AT&T also, apparently have free Helene deals on offer! And Comcast (or whatever the hell they rebranded too) has six months and their nipple flaps at the ready!

[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 15 points 3 weeks ago

Comcast (or whatever the hell they rebranded too)

Xfinity, although I prefer my head canon on which they rebranded to Crapcast

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[-] AtomicHotSauce@lemmy.world 53 points 3 weeks ago

He's in dire need of an aneurysm.

[-] Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc 40 points 3 weeks ago

Melon Husk went from "I MUST be the one to save the world" to "pay up if you want to be saved".

[-] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago
[-] Annoyed_Crabby@monyet.cc 4 points 3 weeks ago

I am very proud of that name.

[-] frunch@lemmy.world 37 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

When your emergency disaster relief comes with a $400 price tag, you've experienced

Dark MAGA

[-] imPastaSyndrome@lemm.ee 21 points 3 weeks ago

Now it makes me think that he was mad. He didn't get to build the sub and save those kids because he was going to charge them to get in... Or make them sign away their rights or something.

[-] Krauerking@lemy.lol 20 points 3 weeks ago

You know if the fucker literally just shipped a couple of these to like local government officials and asked them to be installed in libraries or whatever and then gave free internet with the idea that it would be shared access.

He could probably get all the good will, government officials might buy in for emergency connection access and get more money and people would have all that warm fuzzy feelings of remembering when they joined together and had community and internet thanks to this horse bartering fucker.

But no, he had to want some extra cash he doesn't need.
I don't get the wealthy.

[-] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Elon, it's a great gesture, I'm sure those poor people will be delighted to at least be able to communicate freely.

It's nothing, I... Hold on, did you say poor? How about we changed the plan a bit?

[-] index@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 weeks ago

Each time you go outside and look at the sky remember that at last 3 or 4 Elon Musk private company satellites are looking at you. Everywhere you go at any given time.

[-] CCMan1701A@startrek.website 11 points 3 weeks ago

"The storm provides." -Thunderclap

[-] zer0squar3d@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 weeks ago

Is that the name of the bird from "the good dinosaur"? Idk why that movie was a flop was a great movie.

[-] BigMacHole@lemm.ee 8 points 3 weeks ago

I'm Glad the man trying to Price Gauge literal DYING People is Poised to have a GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT ROLE in Trump's Administration! I'm SURE He will Protect the Middle Class he's currently Price Gauging during a LIFE ENDING HURRICANE!

[-] some_guy 5 points 3 weeks ago

Wow, he's such a hero. /s

[-] csm10495@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

So free like starlink instead of free like beer

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this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2024
665 points (98.4% liked)

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