Our local cable and ISP company (Comcast) uses its own technicians and also contracts with other small companies for installations. The Comcast techs get paid hourly, and they will stay on the job until it is done right. The contracted techs get paid by the job, so it pays for them to get in and out as quickly as possible. Whenever I need a service tech, I always ask that they send Comcast techs.

In the US we have determined that certain public utilities must be available to all. So companies that deliver power, telephone, and/or cable service, are required to reach into rural areas. I remember that in the early 80's, my friends could not get cable service because their postal ZIP code was in the less expensive part of the city; an area with a higher number of transients. The issue was resolved after my friends filed a lawsuit.

When I had a dispute with a local telephone company, their supervisor told me that my call was taking too much time. I reminded her that she had put me on 'hold' for 15 minutes while "looking into my case". She threatened to end the call, until I said that my next call would be to the Public Utilities Commission. She suddenly became much more friendly, and continued to discuss my case. We did not resolve the issue (I mean, it's the phone company!) so I ended up cancelling my landline. But it sure was nice to make them jump when I mentioned the PUC.