In Cincinnati the Lifeline Tier (below "basic") goes for $10.45/mo and includes local channels both SD and HD including most of the digital sub channels if you have a QAM tuner in your TV, Local access channels (the reason I still have cable), C-SPAN, HLN (Headline News), Weather Radar, TBN*, EWYN*, E!, GAC, ION and WGN America.
The lifeline tier here is the legally mandated basic package for larger cable systems. You should have something similar in TX. The other thing to consider is that in some areas Road Runner is $50/mo without cable service and $40 or $45/mo if you have cable service.
BTW, here all the digital channels except the locals and access channels are encrypted.
See ya
Tony
* provided by the local access/ 8am-4pm school days it's PBS for schools. This programming is not directly provided by TWC