Funny if it wasn't so sad Comcast anecdote--kind of long.

[silvarios]

My cable line hasn't been buried, it's been at least a few months since installation and lays on ground running through the public (as in open to the community) grass "alley" behind our town homes.

[rz]

My cable provider (Brighthouse) thankfully isn't as bad as Comcast. I only use cable internet; I have DirecTV for TV. The wire used to run from a pole in the corner of our backyard, to the house. When my internet went down, they sent out a guy to check it, and he said the wiring was going bad and needed replacement. I off-handedly mentioned that I wish it could be buried, and when I came back out 10 minutes later, he had already dug the trench and put in conduit for the cables.

[Buck]

Get a shovel and bury it yourself, even if it's only 4 inches.

[Randalls]

Oh, I already asked them if I was supposed to bury it and how much of a credit I could get. He said they would take care of it. My mother said someone called today and a 3rd party would be coming out to estimate the burial and set up the actual date of internment. I may call up some of her other condo friends for a faux wake if they show.

[Speedy]

Be sure to test the irrigation system before they leave.

[jawg]

Competition works (to some degree).
Here (KC metro area, KS side) we have Time Warner, ATT, SureWest/Consolidated, Dish, DirectTV, and GoogleFiber.
The change in TimeWarner customer service as the others have come in over the years has been remarkable.
Currently have SureWest/Consolidated cable. New cable run was buried in 3 days when I moved two months ago.
I moved from a cable monopoly community and I'm glad I did (although cable was not the reason I moved).
Unfortunately prices are not cheap, but you can switch providers every year or two in competitive areas to get the best deal.