It's easy to demonstrate that it is not a waste of money compared to commercial services, but let us argue counterfactually for the moment that it is the most e

It's easy to demonstrate that it is not a waste of money compared to commercial services, but let us argue counterfactually for the moment that it is the most expensive alternative. It is the only universal (in the USA) communications service, and therefore a necessary service which is not filled or reasonably filled by private alternatives.