Are you trying to say that CATV can be grounded easily? If so, would a simple CATV ground block suffice? QUOTE]
Your $2 block is equivalent to what every cable company must already install. But only you are responsible for the earth ground. If you did not provide proper earthing, then cable company had nothing to properly earth to.
I am completely confused why this is complicated. Every wire in every utility cable must connect short (ie 'less than 10 feet') to the single point earth ground. Why is that complex? Either a connection made by a direct wire (from the cable ground block) or via a protector.
Water pipe grounding is insufficient. If you do not have some other earthing electrode, then your grounding does not even meet 1990 National Electrical code. Surge protection means earthing must meet and also exceed those requirements.
Where does the telco wire meet yours? That is where a telco 'provided for free' surge protector is located. Now follow the green or gray solid wire from that NID box to single point earth ground.
Follow a solid quarter inch bare copper wire from breaker box outside to where it connects to the same dedicated earth ground. Does it go over the foundation and down to earth? Is it among other electric wires? Does it have sharp wire bends? Insufficient for each reason. For example, to exceed code, every wire connection to single point ground is short (ie 'less than ten feet'). As you now appreciate, nothing posted will make any sense until you go out and view what actually exists. Nobody will understand anything posted here without actually viewing the existing panels, boxes, and connections.
Follow the cable TV ground wire. CATV company must install it. If connected to a water pipe or faucet, then you have a code violation AND no surge protection. In every case, if that ground wire does not exist and does not meet all at the same earthing electrode, then you have no surge protection. A serious problem that must be fixed.
One utility demonstrates how to make a single point ground when previous installers did work incorrectly - did not even meet code:
http://www.duke-energy.com/indiana-b...ech-tip-08.asp
Above is only secondary protection. Each protection layer is only defined by it earth ground (the only always required component). You should also inspect your 'primary' surge protection system:
http://www.tvtower.com/fpl.html
Utilities buried or overhead make no difference. Same surge threats exist. Same earthing solutions apply. Any wire (overhead or underground) that interconnects two structures must be earthed (single point) at the entrance of each structure.