Building a network requires laying cables on other people’s private property. Without the government giving them the right to do this they would never be able

Building a network requires laying cables on other people’s private property. Without the government giving them the right to do this they would never be able to negotiate with each individual land owner and networks would not be possible. Wireless has the same problem: use of the airwaves, a public good no one can own. We issue licenses for them otherwise it would be a tragedy of the commons situation where no one would be able to successfully use them. The internet (and most of its popular protocols) was invented and established due to public funding and released to the world for free. So quite literally ISPs would not have a business whatsoever without free public assistance. As a result they owe us a lot more than the average business.