When the cable system is in place, subscriptions are available to the public. After a customer purchases a cable service, the cable operator drops a small cable from the cable feeder into the home and attaches it to the television set. Basic Service Cable television offers a wide variety of programming and services unavailable overtheair. The average cable subscriber currently receives 40 channels. Future development of new technology, such as digital compression, may greatly expand the number of channels cable can deliver.
Subscribers have a choice of services offered by the cable operator.
Different cable systems provide different programming, so it is important to find out what is being offered before signing up. Local community channels produced by the cable operator. Public, government, educational, and leased access channels. Many programs targeted toward specific audiences, such as African Americans, and Hispanics. There is usually a onetime installation charge for hookup into a subscriber's home, but charges vary around the country.