Each cable company enjoys a monopoly in their service area, totally contrary to the public's interest. Satellite service is NOT a viable competitor as it is not economically bi-directional like land-based cables. Other wireless technologies are NOT viable competitors as they do not have the same throughput/quality/cost characteristics. For the feature set provided by the land-based copper or fiber cable, there is no other option.
These local monopolies have caused information (TV, Internet, Phone, Security Monitoring) costs to skyrocket.
The solution is easy. Model new regulations after pro-competition laws that force sharing of electric service lines. Cable line owners MUST be required to allow Information-Providers to access and use their cables at a fair cost-based price.