nzruss: Clarification: Wasn't referring to DHCP at the ISP, but providing a half decent cablemodem with DHCP (or DHCP&router combo) to non-technical users. In today's environment it's not uncommon for home users to have a number of devices. THe few years I spent in the US, all the ISP's seemed to have learned they have less service calls from doing just that. THere are plenty of devices at close to the same cost...
Support issues is one of the reasons why TCL don't supply multiple devices. They supply a single cable modem - and this makes support a lot easier. If you've ever looked at the vast majority of the all in one cable modem/router combo units you'd see exactly why TCL don't supply them - they are terrible.
Virtually everybody who connects to TCL cable uses a router and supplies their own, giving them the flexibility to buy a product that they want. If TCL said you had to spend $300 buying a Cisco WRP521 for example some people would choke at the cost.
The simplest thing for him to do would be to go out and buy a basic ethernet router which will solve all his issues. TCL do configure these devices for users during an install the whole issue of non technical users having problems is avoided. Obviously if the end user doesn't have a router then there isn't a lot TCL can do.