Agree that a new Bell Labs would be wonderful. Many have tried and failed. SpaceX is the modern equivalent -- a no holds barred, work 'til you drop interdisciplinary organization that is already changing the world (Starlink) and will change it much more profoundly in the years to come.
And Pete...the internet has many fathers, but Xerox PARC and Bell probably both pass the deletion test here better than the government.
Counter point: bell labs did basic research and it was funded by corporation. We need a new gen bell labs.
@beffjezos Which company do think is the bell labs of 21st century? Meta ? Tesla? Google x?