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I am profoundly disappointed in the decision by Comcast and by Maryland Public Television to remove Channel 22 from its basic cable channel line-up.

This decision means that any subscriber to Comcast cable must pay additional expenses for new equipment (a cable box or card) and for a higher level of service. From my standpoint, I see this as a matter of principle: Why should I have to pay an additional amount to have returned to my viewing options a television channel that I have long viewed as a staple, just as much as the local network affiliated stations, and a channel that I never consented to have removed from my viewing options? Why must I lose this staple of my television viewing, only to be offered hundreds of additional channels, many of which are pure junk, and only if I am willing to pay an additional cost for this "enhanced" service?

Upon reflection, I think we should look at this with a deeper concern. It is a simple matter of economic justice. In these tough economic times, cable television is for many, a luxury. And while some might consider buying the most basic level of cable services to increase viewing options, there are some for whom that extra cost of a cable box and enhanced service to keep Channel 22 will be a deal breaker. These folks, many of whom are probably more focused on putting food on the table for their families right now than they are on watching television, may very well stick to viewing television over the air, or if they do decide they can scrimp together enough money for cable, subscribe to the lowest level of service — a level that will no longer have MPT's Channel 22. Families will thus be deprived of the educational programming of MPT.

I've heard it said that WETA, Channel 26, will fill this void, but it will not. We live in Maryland, and there is programming pertaining to Maryland that is only covered by MPT. Who will suffer? Elementary, middle school and high school students in low-income families who are learning about government in their classrooms. And senior citizens and others on fixed incomes, and folks whose investments have declined in the current recession. Those folks are affected as well.

With all of the channels available even on Comcast's lowest tier of service, I find it hard to believe that a solution cannot be crafted to address this problem. Who needs hundreds of stations, many of which, in terms of content, are worthless? Bring back MPT Channel 22, and bring it back to the lowest tier of Comcast Cable service.

Deborah A. Vollmer, Chevy Chase