The Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) had reached an agreement with SpaceX to offer farm bureau members two free months of Starlink satellite broadband service. The two free months are valued at nearly $200.
An NEFB spokesperson confirmed that after the two months, Starlink’s regular pricing will apply.
According to NEFB, 20 miles or more outside of the state’s major cities, Omaha and Lincoln, broadband reliable access isn’t available, even though it is a necessity in modern agriculture and for the continued success of small towns farmers and ranchers.
To take advantage of this offer, NEFB members need to go to the organization’s website, then use the Starlink link to sign up for the service. Those who do so will receive a Starlink self-installation kit via the mail. There will be a credit on the statement for the first two months of service. There is no waiting period to take advantage of this new offer.
NEFB said the discount is important because though there are some federal and state funds designed to help provide expanded broadband access, deployments will take time.
“Starlink is ideal for those who live and work in rural communities, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to offer reliable high-speed internet coverage to the last acre for farmers and ranchers across the state,” Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink business operations, said in a prepared statement.
It will be interesting to see if farm bureaus become a potential new marketing channel for SpaceX.
Starlink speeds don’t match those of fiber broadband, but they are an improvement over other options that may be available today in rural areas such as dial-up and DSL.
