I think it was all private money. Lots of little cable companies that were acquired to form the big ones we have now. For example, Comcast in my area used to be Jones Intercable:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones_Intercable I don't know of any cable TV systems in very rural areas. They typically cover towns but not the outside areas. Not profitable to run coax where there aren't a lot of people. Franchise agreements might have required them to cover the entire incorporated area of the town, otherwise they might not even extend to the edge of town. I'm guessing cable TV systems were pretty profitable, hence lots of people started them. And originally cable franchises were like a monopoly, you didn't have to compete with 10 other providers on price, and it was an asset you could sell. Even today, the big cable companies have an unwritten agreement to mostly not compete in each others territory. In my WISP service area we have a small cable company that covers 4 towns. Not the rural areas, just the towns. It is basically owned and run by one guy, I think the cable system was bankrupt and shut down for several years before that. www.heartlandcable.com There were a number of cable TV "magnates", the most famous maybe being John Malone, aka "The Cable Cowboy". -----Original Message----- From: AF <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Matt Hoppes Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2020 11:13 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [AFMUG] Cable TV Monies I know there are USF funds that have been used to build out internet and phone and other funding for electric. How did the early cable systems get funded? I’m not necessarily talking about associations although certainly to some extent, but like full on analog cable TV systems in very rural area. The cost of copper is worse than fiber. How were these systems bank rolled? Sometimes by a single private person. -- AF mailing list [email protected] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list [email protected] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
