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YoDude's Avatar
Posts: 2,869 | Thanked: 1,784 times | Joined on Feb 2007 @ Po' Bo'. PA
#26
The more things change, the more things stay the same in the good ol' US of A.

Before cells, way back in the days of twisted pair, we had "Ma Bell" or ATT. It was the only game in town.

Originally Posted by Ernestine
Here at the Phone Company we handle eighty-four billion calls a year. Serving everyone from presidents and kings to scum of the earth. (snort) We realize that every so often you can't get an operator, for no apparent reason your phone goes out of order [snatches plug out of switchboard], or perhaps you get charged for a call you didn't make. We don't care. Watch this [bangs on a switch panel like a cheap piano] just lost Peoria. (snort) You see, this phone system consists of a multibillion-dollar matrix of space-age technology that is so sophisticated, even we can't handle it. But that's your problem, isn't it ? Next time you complain about your phone service, why don't you try using two Dixie cups with a string. We don't care. We don't have to. (snort) We're the Phone Company!
(A popular Lilly Tomlin character in the late 60's)

Then in 1974 the U.S. Department of Justice initiated an antitrust suit against this telephone monopoly. Under the terms of a settlement finalized on January 8, 1982, "Ma Bell" agreed to divest its local exchange service operating companies, in return for a chance to go into the computer business.

AT&T Computer Systems was a bust but so were many of the "Baby Bells" that were spun off under the terms of the settlement. I find it very interesting that SBS bought AT&T which then ended up buying back the largest and most profitable of the "Baby Bell's" and some how leveraged it's way into Cingular...


Meet the new boss...

...same as the old boss.

We don't care. We don't have to. (snort) We're the Phone Company!

We may get fooled again.