Both cable TV and telephone line installations are required
to provide a connection to earth ground according to NEC and
FCC regulations. However, those utilities cannot properly
earth protection connections if the homeowner did not first
provide a common earth ground.

Yes, even phone lines in N America have a 'whole house' type
protector where their wires encounter interior phone wires.
One that I am currently holding was manufactured in May 1991
and has a UL approval stamp. Plug-in protector manufacturers
just sort of forget to mention this already installed
protector.

wrote:
And you don't realise that Pop is engaged in a war of words with a guy
that is well know for starting flaming threads about surge protection
in multiple groups. There is no reasoning with w_tom. Anyone that has
valid real world experience with using a plug in surge protector that
saved equipment, w_tom tries to either ignore or turn around so that
it looks like the surge protector caused damage. Nothing will change
his mind. He's hell bent on the idea that plug in surge protectors are
of no value, despite many of us having seen them save equipment. Any
reasonable person knows that a whole house surge protector is best, but
if you don;t have one for whatever reason eg living in an
apartment/rental where you have no control, then a plug in is way
better than nothing at all. Plus many of the plug ins offer protection
for cable and phone, which a whole house does not.