In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission passed a set of Internet privacy and net neutrality rules. The rules were then eliminated by Congress two months ago before they ever went into effect. Net neutrality ideologues are lamenting this new action, saying access to the Internet is a right and should be treated as a public utility. But what would that mean?
Much of the capital’s prosperity is the result of coercive redistribution. The lavish compensation of federal bureaucrats is a direct transfer from taxpayers to a gilded class, while the various lobbyists, contractors, cronyists, politicians, and other insiders are fat and happy because of a combination of direct and indirect redistribution.
Without the aid of clear market signals, it's very difficult and maybe impossible for governments to determine the optimal amount and nature of infrastructure spending, even with the best of intentions. Governments certainly lack an incentive to improve over time.
Britain’s history shows that private companies can and have run railways successfully. The partial privatization seen since 1995 could undoubtedly be improved upon, especially by allowing businesses to own the tracks and have greater freedom in setting prices.
