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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2007

Updated: 09/15/2007 12:45 am

Willing To Cancel Cable

Regarding 'Keep Public Channels Accessible' (Our Opinion, Sept. 8):

The availability of government and cable access channels in the lower spectrum (channels 2 to 22) of cable television channels is a vital link to government for many citizens who cannot attend public meetings.

I am a former member of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Cable Advisory Board, which was broadcast on HTV22.

I never realized just how many people watched these channels until I served on this board.

Many times a week people would tell me they had watched our meetings. They also told me they were regular viewers of the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners, the Tampa City Council, school board and other meetings.

Currently, Bright House provides channels without charge to local government, as negotiated in the franchise agreements with both Tampa and Hillsborough County.

So go ahead, Bright House, and show your true colors. I will, in protest, cancel my cable subscription. I encourage others to do the same.

TERRY NEAL

Tampa

Keep Programs Basic

In agreement with your Sept. 8 editorial, I would ask that Bright House not move its public TV channels into the upper end of its listings.

Every Sunday evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., my husband and I eagerly view channel 18 here in Tampa. Their ARTS program, which is supplied to that channel at no cost, is filled with three hours of orchestral music, ballet, opera, old film clips and short documentaries of artists in many fields, etc.

Its purpose is to encourage people to take advantage of all the arts offered in their community. I don't feel I should have to pay for a digital cable box in order to see this wonderful program on a public access channel.

PEARL L. MURRAY

Tampa

Useful And Informative

What this seems like to me is a monopoly in the making. Everyone knows that is illegal, but many companies are trying to get as close as they legally can to taking over all they can.

Personally, I do not have Bright House cable, so where does that leave families like mine? It just continues to leave us in the shadows of all corporate America's big-time companies that are limiting use of numerous things to their involvement in their company only.

I'm only 16 years old. Many people may think these channels are not even viewed a lot, but, honestly, these channels are very useful and informative. It would be a shame to have them taken away from me and other families like mine.

DIONI GONZALEZ

Tampa

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