Satellite internet wouldn't work well with a smart home because the satellite's broadband must be rationed amongst the users, so there isn't a lot to go around, plus there's the issue of latency which I imagine has an impact too. If your neighbour is doing fine with the competitor, you may have to switch. ETFs are normal for ISPs; they're not just a Hughesnet thing.
Since you've had your service for such a short time, you may want to hop over to myAccount and Billing or Tech Support and create a new ticket there -- ask for a sales call review. The Hughesnet staff will be able to pull your sales call, if available, to determine whether proper expectations were set during the call, and this may affect how much ETF you need to pay.
The Hughesnet reps are normally not here on weekends, so it may be Monday or Tuesday before your issue is addressed.
