Streets Chopped but Not Cable Rates

I am writing regarding your Nov. 22 article on planned rate reductions by Falcon Cablevision due to competition from GTE. The article implies that due to competition from GTE, all of the Ventura County residents will benefit with reduced rates.

I currently use TCI of Ventura County, which has a basic rate of $10.51 for 21 channels. GTE is charging $10.95 for 28 channels. Therefore, by using GTE, my rates would actually increase. Yes, I would get an extra seven channels, but the point is that people with basic service want the basic channels at the cheapest price. We don’t care that we are going to get seven extra channels of things like “the shoppers club.”

In the meantime, our streets have been dug up and left in disarray. The roads look terrible and have definitely affected our property values. I didn’t ask to have my street dug up so a private company can now make some extra money--especially when I now find out that GTE’s rates will be higher.

I am amazed that the community is so quiet on the issue.

PAUL WAINESS, Thousand Oaks