One thing Eric Berger does not go into is bandwidth. There is a hell of a lot more bandwidth available in a single pair of optical fibers on the ground compared to SpaceX’ fastest ground to air links.

They claim 1Tb/s for V3 starlink satelites. If that’s true, a fiber pair provides at least 20 times that with utterly normal off the shelf DWDM components. And that’s a single pair of fibers. Optical cables are often lain with 144 fibers, or 288 fibers.

Since the article appears to be mostly a weird collection of badly referenced random cases, let me give you the primary source on the case in the headline:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kristakampz/video/7640403411845877012

Edit and also to save you having to go to tiktok, here’s a frame extracted from the video:

Note, this was in Alexandra Headland in Queensland in Australia. So no idea why the article cites Georgia law…

Also this is relevant: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/mobile-phones

Illegal mobile phone use while driving includes:

• holding it in your hand
• resting on any part of your body (eg. your lap or shoulder)

If you hold your phone or have it on your body, you will be fined even if you’re not operating the phone, or it’s turned off.