Starlink Faces 900+ FCC Complaints Over Speeds, Delays and Customer Support

Over the past five years, more than 900 complaints mentioning Starlink have been filed with the Federal Communications Commission, according to a report from The Fast Company, offering a rare look into how the service performs outside launch demos and speed tests. The filings show two things happening at once: Starlink has become essential for people in underserved areas, and at the same time, it has struggled to meet expectations.

On one hand, users rely on the service for work, school, and staying connected. On the other, they describe inconsistent speeds, delayed hardware deliveries, and difficulty reaching support. About 36% of complaints mention “support,” while 28% reference “tickets,” often pointing to long wait times or automated replies that don’t solve anything.

“Starlink provides a remarkable internet access service, but has very poor customer service. If you are capable of setting it up yourself and troubleshooting it, it works well,” said Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. “But if you need assistance, then you may be out of luck.”

One user in New York said unreliable speeds affected their ability to work from home while caring for a child with special needs. “The speed rarely meet[s] those advertised and, on a cloudy day… the speeds plummet,” they wrote.

Another case from Vermont described a household without internet for five days after a router failure. Attempts to contact support led nowhere. “This is an emergency!!!” the complaint reads, noting they had to drive elsewhere just to get a connection.

At the same time, demand for Starlink is growing. States are preparing to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies to expand access, betting that satellite internet can close long-standing connectivity gaps faster than fibre deployment.

“Starlink is already overwhelmed servicing its existing customer base, and yet we’re about to add a whole bunch more customers,” said Sascha Meinrath, a Penn State professor. “The question… is, Do you add thousands or millions more customers, setting ourselves up for failure of the program?”