Dino Moshova's timely letter to the Manhasset Press has forced an obscure political body that exerts its unseen control over our lives from behind closed doors. Even if Cablevision is successful in defending its monopoly, he, unlike the commission he has ousted, has done a public service.

Interestingly, as the Great Neck North Shore Cable Commission (GNNSCC) rushed to defend itself (isn't that what bureaucracies do?), The Wall Street Journal ran a front page article on Oct. 28 entitled "As Verizon Enters Cable Business, It Faces Local Static." The article described Verizon's attempts to offer FIOS as an alternative to the local cable TV monopolies across the country. Stymied by a series of unreasonable demands unrelated to the cable network, it has secured only 14 permits out of 300 sought.

Closer to home here on Long Island, according to The Wall Street Journal article, Lynbrook has demanded that Verizon provide video equipment in order to film a holiday visit from Santa and Massapequa, which has, according to the WSJ article, granted a permit, did so only after forcing Verizon to plant flowers along a highway median and to decorate street lamps with hanging flower baskets. How these relatively meager outlays offset the many dollars residents pay out because of a lack of competition is a calculus known only to these invisible governmental entities.

The letter of Peter G. Putre, the Village of Munsey Park's representative on the GNNSCC, raises many more questions than it answers. As best I can tell, Mr. Putre implies that the existing Cablevision monopoly, which, together with Optonline, costs my family over $150 per month for the right to pay another $4 or $5 for a pay-per-view movie, is a superior alternative to Verizon. He offers no explanation or any illuminating details. His defense of the GNNSCC's inaction - that so few permits have been granted elsewhere - merely heightens my fears that the GNNSCC is also making similar, shortsighted demands of Verizon.

The letter of Alice Fisham, the chair of the GNNSCC, is a fine example in bureaucratic obfuscation. She carefully states that "the commission has not denied any cable company's request for a franchise to provide cable service in our area." Duh! While it is a true statement, left unsaid is the GNNSCC has not granted Verizon a permit and we are left to the very untender mercies of Cablevision.

At a minimum, the GNNSCC should publicly disavow the use of parochial extortion employed by other towns and it should go further and inform the Manhasset community of the terms and conditions of the competing offers. Let the people decide.

I am no fan of Verizon, nor am I a lobbyist for, or a stockholder of Verizon. Like Cablevision, it is just another monopoly, but when monopolies are forced to compete, we all benefit.

Vincent J. Coyle Jr.