A note on telecommunications history:
AT&T was "Ma Bell" when it was the parent of all the regional phone companies (the "Baby Bells," if you must).
The AT&T that was recently acquired by one of the so-called babies, SBC Communications Corp., was, almost by definition, not Ma Bell.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
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3 comments:
The term "Baby Bell" was applied to the regional bell operating companies established after AT&T was broken up 22 years ago. The term is obsolete. SBC Communications, for example, bears little resemblance to the "Southwestern Bell" it was at inception. "In 1998, Southwestern Bell changed its name to SBC Communications and acquired Pacific Bell and Ameritech" The only "Baby Bell" left in its original form is BellSouth, "and is the only company that still carries the 'Bell' name." (Wikipedia)
"Baby Bell" is no longer a useful term.
Exactly.
The worst part about all this was that even in 1987 people needed to be reminded, I recall. Such us life.
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