Thomas D. Horne has accurately summarized important points
as required by code. However effective earthing exceeds
code. Every incoming utility must make a less than 10 foot
connection where they all meet at your new central earth
ground rod. That includes connections from cable ground
block, from TV antenna and satellite dish wires before
entering building, and ground wire from telco supplied surge
protector in NID premise interface box. All earthing wires
must also be direct (not via other wires, no sharp bends, no
splices), and independent (not bundled with other non
grounding wires and separate from all other earthing wires
until they all meet at central earth ground). An old
expression that says a better ground is not neat. No clean
sharp bends. If an angled wire to earth ground is shorter,
then angle the wire rather than make it look clean, sharp, and
neat.

TV antenna is suppose to be earthed at shortest point. If
TV antenna is earthed by a separate ground rod, then a buried
solid copper wire (as sized according to code) must
interconnect that separate rod with the main central earth
ground rod.

If soil is non-conductive, than additional rods should be
attached to that central earth ground rod. Central earth
ground must be the best earthing point in the facility.
Poorly conductive soil includes sand, loom, gravel, or soils
bleached of ionic materials.

Some examples of how the earthing system should be
reinstalled-
http://www.cinergy.com/surge/ttip08.htm
http://www.psihq.com/iread/strpgrnd.htm
http://www.xantrex.com/support/docserve.asp?id=337

Of course, the grounding system must comply with what Thomas
D. Horne has posted since we earth for multiple reasons - one
is demanded by cited code.

Water pipe is safety grounded - not necessarily earth
grounded. Connection from water pipe must be to breaker box
safety ground bar because that ground wire is to remove
dangerous currents from the water pipe - a human safety
function.

Mark Wilson wrote:
I recently had an electrician verify that I need a new grounding rod but
before he does the work I wanted to get clear regarding the manner in
which telephone, cable, roof mounted TV antenna, and water pipes
should be grounded to the main service ground.

The rod will be planted a few feet from the house just opposite the
inside service panel. Must the TV Antenna ground go all the way to
the top of the rod or is it okay to split-bolt to the grounding wire
at or just below ground level?

The main water pipe enters the house about 25 yards away from the
grounding rod. Is it acceptable to ground the cold water pipe to
the service ground from inside the house? In this case I would
split-bolt to the service ground wire just before it goes through
the basement wall.

My house is cabled for cable TV (although I don't currently subscribe).
Where is the best (practical) place to ground the TV Cable? Split-Bolt
again to service wire as it leaves basement?

Finally, what about Telephone system ground? Split-bolt as it leaves
basement? Is this something the phone company must do (for demarcation
reasons) and if so, are they gonna charge me for it?

Yes, the electrician answered these questions for me already, but my
newsgroup search shows that answers vary and that sometimes the "pros"
don't always do things 100% right, so that's why I've come back here
to trusty old alt.home.repair.

Thanks for your thoughts.