> This would do two things: it would bring down the cost for US consumers, and it would increase the cost for consumers abroad -- effectively reducing the free-rider effect we currently see in Europe.

In most European countries, a government regulator fixes the prices with industry. It's not freeloading in that case, they have the choice between negotiating a fair price or not having access to the market at all. And because they're not idiots, they choose to have access to the market.

Most of that money doesn't go to fund R&D and go back to their shareholders anyway :-)