Telecourses Prove a Need for Public TV

How ironic that in the same issue of The Times describing the public service performed by PBS affiliate KOCE in providing telecourses to those trying to better themselves with higher education, the letter from Edward J. Rutyna (Feb. 12) is printed denouncing (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) funding of public TV as “welfare for the rich.”

The article also rehashes Rep. (Dana) Rohrabacher’s mindless comments about public funding of non-commercial TV programming such as these telecourses being indefensible in these austere times. Who does Rohrabacher think will step into and fill the void when public funds for this educational service are cut off?

These naysayers and others like them aren’t interested in facts. And they won’t listen to any constituent who disagrees with them. They dismiss polls showing overwhelming support for continued funding of the CPB. They only listen to the voters who voted for them, and then only if they hear what they want.

DAVID G. PORTER

Anaheim