Actually, the next step was.
Literally licenses to steal : The cable companies became laundering machines funneling hundreds of millions$ by forcing us all to actually pay for a hundred channels we don't want for the privilege of receiving the dozen channels that we do want, effectively allowing the cable companies to demand payment three times for the same desired content.
And then there's the sports channels, to all of which I have permanent immunity, fortunately.
Another puzzle solved : how the cable companies became the tails that ended up wagging the 10,000 pound government dogs, screwing the taxpayer-consumer and supporting new, huge and growing permanent bureaucracies.
The endless HD fees, equipment rentals and endless invisible taxes became the means to compel the unwilling victims to enjoy their bread and circuses with no means to resist.
The ultimate goal: the transformation of a free over the air "service" into an endless cash cow. All invisible and legal.
No wonder that the new Marxism, aka Crony Capitalism is going nuts trying to find ways to resist being found out and their criminal RICO symbiosis revealed.
SWEET!
In a truly Free exchange, Private Enterprise System, cable TV service with handsome fair profit should cost no more that just the Federal taxes charged to "enjoy" the use of the People's air space.
I have puzzled for decades as to how humble, local cable TV services managed to become financial giants, rich enough to buy entire movie studios, and extravagant giant skyscrapers all over the country.
Check your Cable TV service bill next time you have the opportunity.
Then think about how pissed off you should feel to allow being milked or sheared for several generations. Most specially if you are among the clueless who are surprised to learn that all you really need to watch clear high resolution (better than cable!) news and other HD entertainment over the air is a pair of rabbit ears or other low cost antenna...
I am not immune to the scam, since I DID know all that all along, but was mystified at the lack of a low-cost way to receive digital HD audio over the air (OTA)using what used to be called "transistor radios" to listen to local and network news, as in the old days. The signal is there; but receivers are not being manufactured. The premium satellite Audio digital services should not be necessary! The network and local news, talk radio and music stations of old are still there, still free, and still inaccessible in Digital format.
WHY NOT?