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Seems like the federal government could buy the data and put in the public domain, thus funding the Post Office (a bit)?

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A major political party and several large corporations are opposed to increasing federal funds to the post office. Unless you can spin it as national defense, notable federal funding for any group is unlikely.

"Education is key to every aspect of national defense, and broadband maps are a critical element of seeing that our future soldiers, laborers, and engineers have the resources they need in order to be the best and brightest -- on the battlefield, in the factory, and in the office designing the next generation of war machine."

The other major political party likes its make work program for its voter base, so it’s unlikely to accept a one time payment vs guarantees of organizational stability.

You...are aware that the US military is a rural welfare program, right? It's designed to suck in skilless, poorly educated rural (and to a lesser degree, urban) young men...and to employ adults making munitions, gear, vehicles, and weapons systems.

For example, just about the only reason Susan Collins is still a congressional representative is because she reliably keeps defense spending rolling into the Portsmouth naval shipyard which in turn is fed by a large network of suppliers.

Red team vs blue team.

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