If cable television is to survive in the competitive marketplace, it will have to show increased foresight in designing new services and facilities. Cable television regulations, which may have been an impediment to past growth, should be fully reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and deleted or corrected if necessary; but cable television will achieve success only through its own entrepreneurial initiative. Very often, cable television has provided only an echo of services already provided by broadcast networks; it might instead provide such distinctive services as quality children's programing, cultural programing, and programing for minorities. Although the National Cable Television Association has predicted that cable television would provide far-reaching services, its predictions have not been borne out by reality. The cable television industry should not expect regulatory protection from the FCC but should learn to compete with new technologies in providing services for the public. It should serve minorities through its employment practices and should offer programs in the public interest. Only if cable television provides a unique service in quality, diversity, and state-of-the-art technology will it receive the public backing it needs to survive. (GW)