The cost for the satellite dishes and dish themselves began to drop, as did their size. But by that time cable companies had figured out there might be some money to be made in this market. They lobbied Congress for the right to encrypt their signals, and in 1984 Congress agreed.

However, in a free-market economy, the prospect of profits also brings competition. So while the size of the dishes dropped, the number of channel offerings increased. Things inevitably got confusing for a while, but consolidation won the day and now there are a handful of operators in each area, with a wide variety of packages available.

The satellite dishes themselves have dropped dramatically in size. At one point averaging about 10 feet in width, the standard dish today is a mere 18 inches. It’s also much more efficient and reliable, and doesn’t have to be mounted out in the cow pasture somewhere. Apartment and condo owners can now enjoy satellite dish television signals.