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Breakup of AT&T

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April 11, 1982 - Breakup of AT&T Could Cost Consumers

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Bell System Breakup: 1982 news report examines impact of decision

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The History of AT&T and the Bell System

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AT&T - Break Up

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Breaking up the AT&T

The breakup of the Bell System was mandated on January 8, 1982, by an agreed consent decree providing that AT&T Corporation would, as had been initially proposed by AT&T, relinquish control of the Bell Operating Companies that had provided local telephone service in the United States and Canada up until that point. This effectively took the monopoly that was the Bell System and split it into entirely separate companies that would continue to provide telephone service. AT&T would continue to be a provider of long distance service, while the now-independent Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) would provide local service, and would no longer be directly supplied with equipment from AT&T subsidiary Western Electric.
    • Post-breakup structure 

    • Effects 

    • Evolution of the Baby Bells 

    • Financial arbitrage