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Time Warner may be the only cable provider you have but that doesn’t stop you or anyone else from building another system in your area.
Yes it does. TW has mutual agreements with other cable providers not to offer their services in their areas - AND - agreements (i.e. money) with the local municipalities not to allow others in too.

Sorry but I beg to differ. Most states now have state franchises instead of local. You are correct in that most large cable companies do not overbuild each other but that doesn't stop you or anyone else from applying and being granted a franchise. The reason they will not overbuild each other is because in most cases two cable providers will not survive and one usually buys out the other and you as a subscriber have to pay more. The problem you and I would have would be dealing with the programmers. Due to the large number of subs TW has they can get a much better rate from the programmers. The 1992 Cable act pretty much eliminated exclusive franchises.