While the Communications Act is in definite need for a radical re-thinking with an eye on equitable access, affordability and expanded public interests protections, the thought of this reform effort launching under current House leadership should be cause for alarm.

Leading the charge is House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) who last attempted this in 2006 when he championed the troubled national video franchise legislation written by AT&T. His effort then was to get the bill into conference where the real decisions are made (behind closed doors and away from public scrutiny). AT&T failed in that effort, but succeeded in passing their legislation in 20 states accomplishing the same goal. In CA, AT&T gave us DIVCA and succeeded in exiling local PEG channels to a CH99 ghetto menu and altering funding streams to create fiscal instability for media centers around the state.