Cable television originated in the 1940s and 1950s in various locations around the country, nearly simultaneously.  Early developers were hoping to improve the reception quality of over-the-air television signals by building “community antennas”.  Soon cable operators began to work toward picking up broadcast signals from long distances.

In the 1960s, the growth of cable was seen as competition by local television stations and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got involved.  The FCC worked to restrict cable systems’ ability to import distant television signals, stalling development of the industry temporarily.

By the mid 1970s, efforts by the cable industry at the local, state and federal levels of government began to result in a gradual deregulation.  By the end of the decade, growth had resumed and nearly 16 million households were cable subscribers.

But still, at that time, cable provided a single service- a clear video picture. 

Driven by competition and backed by billions of dollars in private capital, the industry has reinvented itself over the past two decades to provide video, voice and data services. Cable has helped to shape the modern telecommunications industry, and the marketplace for those services is exploding as never before. 

Consumers today have a variety of choices for their video, Internet and telephone needs, and have the ability to dictate where and how they receive them. 

Cable is now focused on preparing for the future of telecommunications, through upgraded facilities which will support the most cutting edge products, and superior programming which will provide the most diverse, compelling television in the world.