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I am guess this is a "joke" reply because of the forced colloquialism but this is not a subsidy for the business, it was a group of companies bidding to provide rural broadband service.

This is concerning 9 Billion that was awarded in 2020. The 2021 infrastructure bill included and additional 40 Billion. None of the 2021 money has been spent and companies that won the 2020 award have been given extensions:

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/dish-directv-fcc-charlie-ergen-j...

FWIW, the 2021 IIJA at least has a clawback for those companies that take funding but don't deliver

https://www.ey.com/en_us/insights/government-public-sector/p....

At what point do these companies return the money?

It isn't a subsidy to Starlink, it's a subsidy to the end-users. Starlink wanted the contract, and arguably should have gotten it. Instead we've spent tons of taxpayer $$$$ and connected approximately nobody (except for the donated Starlinks used for emergency disaster relief in WNC).

The steps of government subsidies:

1. Company raises prices of plans

2. Government gives subsidy to company

3. End user sees neigh benefit.

4. Government increases subsidy

5. Company raises prices of plans

6. End user sees neigh benefit.