The Austin Chronicle notes that nobody is bothering to see if bell-lobbied "franchise reform" actually works. "Two years after the Texas Legislature passed a sweeping reorganization of the competitive landscape for delivering telecommunication services to homes (aka "Franchise reform"), community groups are wondering what happened to a much-anticipated committee that was supposed to monitor the law's impact". Phone companies promise these reform laws streamline the franchise system, resulting in lower prices and increased broadband & TV competition -- something the committee was supposed to confirm. Texas was the first state to pass such a law.

Dozens of these bills have since passed, and dozens more are being considered in state capitols all over the country. The baby bells' state-level push became stronger after a federal franchise reform bill supported by Ted Stevens was derailed by network neutrality debate. Consumer advocates argue the primary goals of the laws are to legalize cherry picking, eliminate eminent domain rights and strip away consumer protections.