SpaceX has quietly introduced a $15 monthly Starlink plan for New York residents, complying with the state’s Affordable Broadband Act that took effect earlier this year. The New York Affordable Broadband Service Plan represents a significant departure from Starlink’s typical pricing structure, though customers still face substantial upfront equipment costs.
The New York Affordable Broadband Act mandates that internet service providers serving over 20k households must offer plans with speeds of at least 25Mbps for no more than $15 monthly to consumers enrolled in low-income assistance programs, NYC Low-cost plans for home internet how to works. Initially, SpaceX attempted to exempt itself from this requirement, arguing in January that it served fewer than the 20k-household threshold and that the $15 price point would create an “unreasonable” 87.5% revenue reduction.
The New York plan essentially mirrors Starlink’s Residential Lite service but with artificially capped download speeds limited to 25Mbps. Represents a significant reduction from the standard Residential Lite plan, which typically delivers 40 to 130Mbps for $80 monthly across with Alaska, California, and Texas.
For context, Starlink’s premium $120 residential tier achieves median download speeds of 104Mbps in the United States, according to Ookla data from Q1. However, the service still falls short of the FCC’s minimum broadband definition of 100Mbps downloads and 20Mbps uploads across its network.
Access to the $15 New York plan requires navigating a multi-step process that begins with ordering the standard Residential Lite service through Starlink.com. Customers must then contact SpaceX support with “New York Affordable Broadband Act” as the ticket subject to request enrollment in the discounted plan.
Documentation proving enrollment in qualifying low-income programs is required, including Medicaid, National School Lunch Program, or benefits from Senior Citizen or Disability Rent Increase Exemptions. SpaceX warns against submitting multiple support tickets and states that team review determines final eligibility.
Despite the reduced monthly fee, customers must still purchase the $349 standard Starlink dish upfront. Equipment requirement potentially undermines the affordability aspect of the program, as the initial investment represents nearly two years of service fees.
SpaceX’s policy explicitly states that selecting any service plan other than Residential Lite during the initial ordering process disqualifies customers from the New York Affordable Broadband Act Service Plan.
This compliance move comes as SpaceX has been implementing various promotional strategies nationwide, including discounted equipment and free dish offers to expand its subscriber base.
Timing suggests SpaceX recognized that continued resistance to New York’s requirements could result in regulatory complications or market access restrictions. By offering a compliant service tier, the company maintains its ability to operate in a significant metropolitan market while addressing state policy objectives.
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