I am taking the liberty writing regarding the letter from Mr. Brian Lynch, the vice president of Comcast, "Repositioned D.C. Stations Allows For Better Service" (Letters, Aug, 7).

Mr. Lynch states that he is responding to the July 31 article entitled "Ulman presses Comcast on Changes," however, in my opinion has taken this opportunity to merely display his incredible hubris and total disregard for Comcast customers in Howard County.

Please correct me if I am mistaken, but Comcast does not does have in inalienable right to provide service in Howard County, rather they operate with the approval of the county.

Clearly, it is the duty of the county to treat all citizens fairly and equally, not act in a way that would foster a divisive situation.

The recent decision by Comcast to eliminate the D.C. network affiliates from basic cable is such a divisive situation and breaches the fundamental fairness test. In Howard County, with equally large populations of both D.C.- and Baltimore-oriented citizens, it is absolutely imperative that the inclusion of both D.C. and Baltimore network channels be included in the basic cable packages offered by all approved cable vendors.

I have no argument with his statement that "digital is now the technology standard" and that 75 percent of Comcast customers subscribe to digital." This situation may actually raise a real issue regarding available bandwidth space, and I am happy to have an informed public forum regarding this matter.

However, these facts should not be allowed to obscure the salient fact that the loss of the D.C. network affiliate stations from basic cable drives a wedge between the citizens of Howard County, is fundamentally unfair, results in a "backdoor" rate increase and impacts both older and lower income residents the most.

Mr. Lynch, in my opinion, is not thinking clearly if he thinks that:

a). Baltimore local news for Washington, D.C.-oriented citizens is even minimally acceptable;

b). the the quoted Neilsen ratings are in any way persausive;

c). the convenient marriage of Comcast and the Baltimore channels in promoting this activity for their own gains in viewership and revenue;

d). the broadcasting of 12 of 16 Redskin games this year on the Baltimore channels is acceptable to either Baltimore- or D.C.-oriented citizens;

e). that we should be happy with greater access to Chicago local news than D.C. local news as a part of basic cable;

f). "the changes to our (Comcast) service may be initially unsettling to some of our customers."

Really? Initially unsettling? Sorry to get in the way of the Comcast hardball tactics. This is completely unacceptable.

Mr. Lynch, if Comcast actually has a "bandwidth shortage" we can discuss the matter, but do not be so insolent as to tell the citizens of Howard County what is good for us.

Let's work together to resolve this matter for the benefit of all concerned parties.

Stephen P. Hall

Hickory Ridge

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