Mr. Hundt appears to have taken the first steps toward raising the telephone rates of every household in this country. That would be bad enough, but the FCC has also, by regulation, mandated corporate downsizing. Mr. Hundt's irresponsible increase in the so-called productivity factor will cost the industry thousands of jobs as telephone companies slash employment to achieve the productivity improvement the FCC is demanding.

Mr. Hundt was not required by the Telecommunications Reform Act to take these steps. It appears that he wishes higher prices and fewer jobs to be his personal legacy.