I agree a performance bond would be best, with enough teeth that the worst case forces SpaceX to give every cent back or go bankrupt. Same with Comcast et al.

I agree a performance bond would be best, with enough teeth that the worst case forces SpaceX to give every cent back or go bankrupt. Same with Comcast et al. But you're unnecessarily ascribing malice. SpaceX has made some big promises, and if it delivers it deserves to hoover up basically all of that money. But until the network is real, customers can sign up, and it's just a matter of scaling, a rational actor attempting to genuinely forward the interests of the country may well decide it poses too much risk.