thanks. AT&T was broken up in 1984 and the company became a 'long distance company', while the local phone companies were spun off to create seven baby bells --
there was no internet then, and 'long distance' was a monopoly. In 1984 MCI wanted in, so that's one of the major reasons AT&T was broken up.
The court realized that they companies should be restricted from these other markets, like long distance because they could vertically integrate-- ie, combine local, long distance, broadband, and control the wire.
Long distance -- while that market has been diminishing year by year, in 1996, the incumbents wanted to get into this market, so they created the "Telecom Act of 1996" to trade off-- opening the networks in exchange for entering long distance.
If you look at any triple play they still have a long distance component-- about $12 bucks.. not counting taxes and while many might go voip - the average customer just wants the thing to work.
if you want the full history search for the "Unauthorized Bio of the Baby Bells" -- also a free download, with Foreword by Dr. Robert Metcalfe. (1998) The opening in $300 billion was taken from this first book.
there was no internet then, and 'long distance' was a monopoly. In 1984 MCI wanted in, so that's one of the major reasons AT&T was broken up.
The court realized that they companies should be restricted from these other markets, like long distance because they could vertically integrate-- ie, combine local, long distance, broadband, and control the wire.
Long distance -- while that market has been diminishing year by year, in 1996, the incumbents wanted to get into this market, so they created the "Telecom Act of 1996" to trade off-- opening the networks in exchange for entering long distance.
If you look at any triple play they still have a long distance component-- about $12 bucks.. not counting taxes and while many might go voip - the average customer just wants the thing to work.
if you want the full history search for the "Unauthorized Bio of the Baby Bells" -- also a free download, with Foreword by Dr. Robert Metcalfe. (1998) The opening in $300 billion was taken from this first book.