That's right, a TV tax. For Americans, the whole idea of an annual tax to own a television borders on the absurd.
For Britons, the whole idea of being bombarded with adverts for 5 minutes out of every 13 borders on the absurd.
But - America has the answer - channels WGBH Boston, known as Channel 11 in Chicago. And guess what? They cost... money! For this reason, every few months they will have "pledge weeks"... where the audience is invited to donate.
When I lived in CA I got ONE TV channel, so had to pay a cable company $28/mo for service - considerably more than the BBC licence.
You pays your money and takes your choice!