Mr. Lindich: I have long wanted to write to someone in the know about the intrusive pollution and inanity being stiffed on TV program viewers in terms of frequent and lengthy TV ads. The result, in my opinion, is diminished interest in watching almost anything but PBS channels for example. I was under the impression that the public “owns” the airwaves. If this is so, why are we afforded the “privilege” of being inundated by this drivel? My question is “why can’t a limit be placed on the amount of time (in length and frequency) that advertisers can interrupt a given program”? I suspect they would recite the old saw about free enterprise etc., to which my answer would be that if the supply (time) is limited, then the demand (for advertising) would simply raise the cost to advertisers. A complementary (and totally satisfying) approach would have the FCC require that TV broadcasters insert alert signals in transmissions, allowing receivers to automatically blank out picture and/or sound during advertisements, at the viewer’s discretion.

Your comments are welcomed.

Karl Chester