http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/road-use-charges.aspx
This blog entry follows a blog entry taking a broader Information Structure look at the Top Level Domain of Information and Knowledge. Prior to that blog entry was a look a RUC West. In hindsight I should call it "RUC Wild West". Like carving the "Wild West" into an organized Domain it was done from a higher level located in the East, social beliefs and motivations of the East applied to settling the West. The focus then was Washington DC. Naturally that remains true today.
For background I suggest viewing Ken Burns "The West"
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=ken+burns+the+west&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Look at the map in the top link presenting the a graphical view of what is to be settled with a new system of establishing and controlling a new "Information Territory" for charging to create revenues. Modeled on what is known in the East to Application a a far greater territory in the West. This is the plan of those that intend by plan to take the West. Back when it was the Wild West it was the building of the railroad the claiming of Geographical Territory for financial gain. Now the territory to be captured is conceptual. A territory that drew money to the government from taxes converting to a territory that draws money from fees. That is an old business model to make money not on the ownership but on fees that can be charged to those that use what is owned by others.
It its called a Rentier Society. Rentier Capitalism that seizes the Commons like territorial acquisition and charges fees for its public use.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=rentier+society&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
The link at the top is the Top Level Domain in this Road Use Charge "land grab" to establish control of land it does not really own but land that it can charge a fee to use. A fee as replacement for taxes paid to the government for creation, use and maintenance of a public asset.
What is associated with this grabbing of the public asset to charge fees? Access to a vast wealth to be mined from the information derived from charging the fee to individual entities using the national road system. Who they are. Where they are located. The extent to which they use the road system. Where they go and when on the road system. It is like the question "Where does Google get its money". Look closer and the answer is the value of information created by use. It has become a basic business model. Give away the razor, charge for the (use of an expendable thing that is repeatedly required) blade. Give away the camera, charge for the film. What happened when film is no longer required? Charge rent for the medium to continue to store it digitally.
RUC is a big change in our social structure that will throw the spotlight on the creep of "Fees" as private enterprise invades the public domain and milks it like a cash cow. It is not only an invasion of the public domain by private enterprise but Big Private Enterprise invading the domain of small private enterprise. That invasion is even more subtle but the benefits of capturing a market for fees derived from it applies to the private domain as well as the public one. That is a separate thing to examine in itself and the object of a "National Organization" to capture the membership of the smaller players. It is a brilliant long range business model!
In the shorter range the ramifications of RUC are immense. It is a change from a tax based system to a fee base system. Fees collected by outsourcing to private enterprise and government receiving pass through (minus expense and profit) revenue. It may be hard to believe but citizens controlled taxes. Control by the vote for what that is worth. What happens when use fees must be increased? Blame the government that became merely the contracting agent to give away the right of direct tax on what it (We the People) own?
What is the NSCL? One of many Top Level Domain Players in the Road Use Charge Domain.
http://www.ncsl.org/aboutus.aspx
What a wonderful thing that they organized to "help" our elected representatives!
"In 1974, three organizations represented the interests of legislators and staff, but their influence was diluted. So seven inventive legislative leaders and two staffers got together and envisioned a single national organization to support, defend and strengthen state legislatures. After a survey of lawmakers and staff from around the country confirmed their idea was a good one, the three organizations dissolved, and on Jan. 1, 1975, the National Conference of State Legislatures was born."
Looks like the ALEC model.
https://www.alec.org
Sure 'nuff:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=ncsl+alec&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
"ALEC is a forum for stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop real, state-based solutions to encourage growth, preserve economic security and protect hardworking taxpayers."
And convert those hardworking tax payers to hardworking fee payers? Qui Bono?
Taxes vs Fees:
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=taxes+vs+fees&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
This search term link: "trickle down fees"
For investigation purposes it is convenient that the TLD players identify as representing the next lower level special interest players. Fees trickle down! In the private domain. Trickle down fees raise all boats in the private sector financial services domain as well as private sector goods.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/bank-of-america-celebrates-giant-tax-cut-by-raising-fees-on-poor-people
Returning to RUC: These are the results of a search on the term "road use charges"
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22road+use+charges%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Wikipedia calls it "Road Pricing"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_pricing
Arpent is a player in RUC. It provided financial support for this recent study:
http://www.cramton.umd.edu/papers2015-2019/cramton-geddes-ockenfels-market-design-for-road-use.pdf
Academic involvement:
https://www.accessmagazine.org/fall-2013/fuel-taxes-mileage-fees/
A broader issue to examine in RUC is the Internet Of Things:
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