The Cost of Cable

Like Brian Lowry, I too would be more willing to pay the cost of a cable channel if I, rather than the cable company, selected the channels (“New Meaning to Getting What You Pay For,” Aug. 17).

For an example of what works, see the Internet. The reason it has become a passion with so many people is not that you can look at pornography, or that you can download free music, or that radicals can get hate literature and bomb-making instructions, but that you can connect to any site, anywhere in the world, just like the phone company. How many people would order phone service if the phone company gave you a list of 100 people, their selection, whom you could call and nobody else?

Maybe I will have to wait until the Internet has enough bandwidth for live TV--then watch out, networks, cable channels, etc. People want to choose their own programming, rather than having it spoon-fed by some network executive.

JAMES D. MENTZER

Los Angeles

I too would pay $50 for one more season of “My So-Called Life” and “Homicide” (if they bring back both Andre Braugher and Ned Beatty). I would also add “Relativity” and “Northern Exposure” to the list.

I am furious (on the rare occasions when I channel surf) at the 40-plus channels I have no interest in and then have to miss interesting programs on HBO and Showtime because I can’t afford to boost my monthly cable bill to $75!

When are they going to deregulate cable TV? Only then will we have decently priced cable-vision.

LYN CORUM

Santa Monica