The Breakup of the AT&T Monopoly Occurs

1/1/1984

On January 1, 1984 American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T), was officially broken up, ending a long-established monopoly on telephone service. AT&T's local operations were split into seven independent regional Bell operating companies, known as "Baby Bells." AT&T, reduced in value by about 70%, continued to run all its long distance services through AT&T Communications, Inc.

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