Does anyone know how to get involved in local cable TV commercials. I heard about starting off with local work first and then moving on to bigger work. Do you think this is a good idea or am I wasting my time?

I tried looking under local marketing companies for my area but it was so confusing and I had no idea where to go from there.

Thanks!

Just like any other commercial--breakdowns are listed with agents, although sometimes they may be listed on backstage.com

Find a local talent agency if you aren't already with one. They handle local and national spots in your area. Most of the time its non-union work, so you're not making much money (generally $100-400 daily rate). But, the craft services are usually great! (I will act for food)
Its a great way to network with other actors, even with the production team. You never know who has worked with who, or what projects may be coming up in your area soon! I did 4 carmax commercials and I only auditioned for one of them. I made friends with the director and they requested me the next three times they came to town. Doing local commercials is sometimes fun, and sometimes its like pulling teeth, but it is beneficial as far as building a resume and networking with other actors! Have fun!

Avidactor is right. Doing small, nonunion jobs like local commercials is a great idea at the beginning of your career. It can be a fun and valuable learning experience, and provide you with tape--some of which, sometimes, is actually decent! When I used to produce low budget commercials, I actually had a stock of actors and models I drew from regularly--and those folks ended up making a few thousand bucks with my company in a year. Not much, I know, but at 300-500$ per day of shooting, it wasn't too much work either.
You will need an agent to find most of these jobs, but depending on your local market, some of these jobs will be listed online. Some smaller markets have reliable websites that cater to that area. Of course you'll have to be careful not to fall into an online scam--stay away from paying fees and research casting sites by talking to other local actors in your acting class (you are in one of those, right?). If you can't immediately find an agent, don't despair ---you may be able to find opportunities without a talent rep.