content: Nope.  They're monopolies by government decree.  In most areas of the US it is illegal to start a competing cable service.  Where there is competition it is usually because of quirks in the law, e.g. Verizon FIOS utilized their telephony monopoly.    Proof: Railroads were even higher fixed/startup costs.  Numerous were the cases were they would build parallel routes.  Often to poke the finger in the other guys eye.  Again,this action was only ended through legislative fiat.