In Digital Destiny, Jeff Chester explores the history, and the current state of government regulation and deregulation of Big Media. Mr. Chester paints a very bleak picture. The story opens in 1934 with the ‘Telecommunications Act.' This was legislation designed to ensure freedom of access to the media of the day, and also ensure an independent media.

The major referee in the game of communications is the all-powerful FCC (Federal Communications Commission). These political appointees are charged with maintaining fairness and freedom of access to the various types of popular telecommunications methods, TV, Radio, Telephone, Cable, and more recently the Internet. This regulatory organization has been less than effective over the years, favoring Big Media over the needs and wants of the consumer.

As a consumer I have to say that the rallying call I have heard over the years from these industries has been one of 'deregulation' and the consequent offer of more choices. I am sure that many of you have heard something similar.

Digital Destiny reveals that deregulation is not always the best solution. The communications world has become one that is controlled by a very small group of companies, and those companies may not have the consumers' best interests in mind. The book is particularly critical of the role that the FCC has played in allowing the large media companies to effectively control what the consumer has access to; the FCC has become just a spokesman for Big Media.

The deregulation of most of the ownership rules now means that you may live in a market where the daily newspaper, the local TV station, the cable provider, and even your telephone provider, are all owned by the same company. If that is the case, there is a very good chance that this company also owns many other nationwide markets. This lack of competition results in a situation where there is little pressure to meet the local markets wants and needs.