[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Glen, you're using a bit of hyperbole here.

First, the main means of transportation a hundred years ago was by train. Then the US highway system and later the interstate highway system made the new technology (cars & trucks) the primary way to move around the country. Then there's the whole airline industry and FAA to add to the mix. What happened to the rail companies? Mergers, failures, reduction in areas served. Somehow the republic survived and although some businesses lost out, others sprung up and provided more and better capabilities than what the rail companies provided.

Walmart is a corporate (near-)monopoly. What the FCC is proposing is more like US/interstate highways competing with rail lines.

This service would likely be under the FCC, who reports to Congress, not a new department that reports to the White House.

The comparison to free cell phones is incorrect. Once again, it sounds to me like it's more like making (internet) highways available for use. Products that run on it will be produced and sold to the public. This will probably create a large number of private sector jobs and increase technical innovation.

Highways aren't free (think gas taxes), so I'm not going to imply this will be any "more" free. But, the idea is intriguing.

Is there a proposal to have free Air service or free train service?