"To bridge America's digital divide, we'll have to use innovative technologies," Pai said in a statement.
Satellite-powered internet is actually nothing new, but the plan from SpaceX promises to make it cheaper and far faster. To make it work, the company needs to send over 4000 satellites into low-orbit around the Earth (or about 700 miles from the planet, far lower than many communication satellites).
The satellites from SpaceX will then communicate with stations on the ground to supply affordable broadband across the world. Speeds for the internet service will reach up to one gigabit per second (Gbps), far ahead the 31 Mbps an average US household receives.
On Wednesday, Pai said the satellite technology could also serve areas of rural America where fiber optic cables and cell towers have failed to reach. It'll also introduce healthy competition with internet service providers on the ground too, he said.
