Brookhaven customers may one day reap positive benefits fromthose who are now giving up illegal cable TV service.

“It will save on future rate increases. Our rate increases won’tbe as much, because by reducing cable theft, it reduces operationcosts,” said Cable One general manager Bobby McCool.

McCool said that since May 1, dozens of people have alreadyresponded to the one month amnesty program where Cable One allowsresidents to report cable theft without any consequences.

“We are getting good results. The amnesty campaign is working,”he said. “We’ve had people calling and coming by the office.”

Company officials have found that many residents receiving cableillegally where unaware of the harm being caused to payingcustomers.

“Some people have said they moved into a home and it was alreadyconnected, and they didn’t know to have it disconnected,” saidMcCool.

He mentioned how one person came directly to his office to tellhim she had been receiving cable illegally for some time but wantedto begin paying for services.

“If they come in before June 1 and they want to get connected,there will not be an installation fee,” said McCool.

Beginning the first of June, Cable One employees will conduct anaudit in the area to determine how many homes receive cableillegally.

Service technicians have a device that can detect illegal cablehookups from several hundred yards away, even if the wires areburied or spliced into legal cable wires.

McCool pointed out that fixing loose and spliced wires willresult in clearer signals for current customers.

“It will help our paying customers get better pictures,” saidMcCool.