Map of the original and current companies.

The Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC) are the result of the U.S. Department of Justice antitrust suit against American Telephone & Telegraph. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1250x800, 239 KB) Summary Map showing Regional Bell Operating Companies original and current extents. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1250x800, 239 KB) Summary Map showing Regional Bell Operating Companies original and current extents. ... This article is about anti-competitive business behavior. ... AT&T (formerly an abbreviation for American Telephone and Telegraph) Corporation (NYSE: T) is an American telecommunications company. ...

History

On January 8, 1982, AT&T settled the suit and agreed to divest ("spin off") its local exchange service operating companies in return for a chance to go into the Internet services industry. Effective January 1, 1984, AT&T's local operations were split into seven independent Regional Bell Operating Companies known as "Baby Bells." RBOCs were originally known as Regional Holding Companies, or RHCs ^[1]. January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ...

After the Modification of Final Judgment, the resulting Baby Bells were originally: In telecommunication, Modification of Final Judgment (MFJ) is the 1982 antitrust suit settlement agreement (consent decree) entered into by the United States Department of Justice and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) that, after modification and upon approval of the United States District Court for the District of...

• Ameritech — (acquired by SBC in 1999)
• Bell Atlantic — (acquired GTE in 2000 and changed its name to Verizon)
• BellSouth — (acquired by AT&T in 2006)
• NYNEX — (acquired by Bell Atlantic in 1996)
• Pacific Bell — (acquired by SBC in 1997)
• Southwestern Bell — (changed its name to SBC in 1995; acquired AT&T in 2005 and changed its name to AT&T)
• U S West — (acquired by Qwest in 2000)

Prior to 1984, AT&T also held investments in two smaller and otherwise independent companies, Cincinnati Bell and Southern New England Telephone (SNET). Following the 1984 breakup, these became fully independent as well. All nine local-exchange companies were assigned a share of the rights to the Bell trademark. Additionally, there was one comparably-sized independent (non-Bell) company, GTE. Ameritech (American Information Technologies) is a U.S. telecommunications company that arose out of the 1984 AT&T divestiture. ... SBC Communications NYSE: SBC is an American telecommunications company based in San Antonio, Texas. ... Categories: Corporation stubs | Communications companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Telephone companies | Public Utilities ... General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) was the largest of the independent US telephone companies during the days of the Bell System. ... This article or section should include material from Bell Atlantic This article or section should include material from GTE Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is a local exchange telephone company formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic, a former Bell Operating Company, and GTE, which was the largest independant local exchange... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... AT&T Inc. ... NYNEX Corporation (pronounced Nine-x) was a telephone company which served five New England states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) as well as New York. ... Pacific Bell logo Pacific Bell was a telephone company which provided service in the state of California. ... SBC Communications (NYSE: SBC) is an American telecommunications company based in San Antonio, Texas. ... This article describes the former AT&T Corp. ... AT&T Inc. ... US West, Inc. ... Qwest Communications International Inc. ... Cincinnati Bell is the dominant telephone company for Cincinnati, Ohio and its nearby suburbs in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. ... The Southern New England Telephone Company (commonly referred to as SNET by its customers) started operations on January 27, 1878 as the District Telephone Company of New Haven. ... Categories: Corporation stubs | Communications companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Telephone companies | Public Utilities ...

Shared Trademarks

After divestiture AT&T was prohibited from using the Bell name or logo, and those trademarks would be shared by the RBOCs. After the BellSouth acquisition, Cincinnati Bell and Bell Canada are the last former AT&T companies to still carry the "Bell" name.

Current use of the Bell logo includes Verizon who uses the Bell logo on its payphones (including former GTE payphones), hard hats, trucks, and buildings. Additionally, Malheur Bell, a Qwest-owned independent uses the Bell name and logo. This article or section should include material from Bell Atlantic This article or section should include material from GTE Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is a local exchange telephone company formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic, a former Bell Operating Company, and GTE, which was the largest independant local exchange... General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) was the largest of the independent US telephone companies during the days of the Bell System. ... Malheur Home Telephone Company, commonly known as Malheur Bell, is a rural telephone company operating in Oregon. ... Qwest Corporation is the single Bell Operating Company of Qwest Communications International, Inc. ...

Original 1984 Regional Holding Company Logos

NYNEX Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...	Bell Atlantic Image File history File links Bellatlantic84. ...	BellSouth BellSouth logo, deeming fair use This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ...	Southwestern Bell Image File history File links SWBellC.jpg Summary Southwestern Bell Corporation logo, 1984-1995, from AT&T corporate Licensing This is a logo of a corporation, sports team, or other organization, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ...
Ameritech Image File history File links Ameritech84. ...	U S West Image File history File links Qwest logo from brandsoftheworld. ...	Pacific Telesis Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x124, 4 KB) Summary Pacific Telesis logo; drawn by me based on a scan of a 1983 advertisement. ...	1984 AT&T logo, shown for comparison Image File history File links Att_sm. ...

Mergers

This diagram shows how the various RBOC companies have changed due to mergers and acquisitions since the 1984 breakup.

Many of these companies have since merged, leaving only 3 regional telephone companies in the United States. After the 1984 breakup, part of AT&T's Bell Labs was split off into Bellcore, which would serve as an R&D and standards body for the seven Baby Bells. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 600 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (633 × 633 pixel, file size: 30 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Updated with BellSouth/AT&T merger, as it was approved by the FCC on December 29, 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 600 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (633 × 633 pixel, file size: 30 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Updated with BellSouth/AT&T merger, as it was approved by the FCC on December 29, 2006. ... Bell Laboratories (also known as Bell Labs and formerly known as AT&T Bell Laboratories and Bell Telephone Laboratories) was the main research and development arm of the United States Bell System. ... Telcordia Technologies, formerly Bellcore, is an American telecommunications company created in 1984 after the breakup of AT&T. It was split from the original Bell Labs as part of the negotiated consent decree with the US government, and served Research & Development and standards setting functions for the resulting seven Baby...

AT&T Inc.

Southwestern Bell Corporation, which changed its name to SBC Communications in 1995, acquired Pacific Telesis in 1997, former independent Bell System franchise not part of divestiture, SNET in 1998, and Ameritech in 1999. In February 2005, SBC announced its plans to acquire former parent company AT&T Corporation for over $16 billion. SBC took on AT&T name upon merger closure, which closed on November 18, 2005. SBC began trading as AT&T, Inc. on December 1, 2005 but began re-branding as early as November 21. On March 5, 2006, it was announced that AT&T would purchase BellSouth for $67 billion U.S., in an all-stock deal. On December 29, 2006, the FCC approved the merger, worth $86 billion US. [1] AT&T Inc. ... SBC Communications NYSE: SBC is an American telecommunications company based in San Antonio, Texas. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... For current information on this topic, see AT&T. Pacific Telesis Group was one of the seven Regional Bell Operating Companies created after the 1984 breakup of AT&T as a holding company for Pacific Bell and Nevada Bell. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Southern New England Telephone Company (commonly referred to as SNET by its customers) started operations on January 27, 1878 as the District Telephone Company of New Haven. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Ameritech (American Information Technologies) is a U.S. telecommunications company that arose out of the 1984 AT&T divestiture. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... AT&T (formerly an abbreviation for American Telephone and Telegraph) Corporation was an American telecommunications company until it merged with SBC Communications in 2005 to form a new company called AT&T. Old AT&T provided voice, video, data, and Internet telecommunications and professional services to businesses, consumers, and government... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... AT&T Inc. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the day. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... AT&T Inc. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The abbreviation FCC can refer to: Face-centered cubic (usually fcc), a crystallographic structure Federal Communications Commission, a US government organization Farm Credit Corporation/Farm Credit Canada, a Canadian government organization Families with Children from China, an adoption support organization Florida Christian College, a college in central Florida Fresno City...

Verizon Communications

In 1997, NYNEX was acquired by Bell Atlantic (taking the Bell Atlantic name), which later, in 2000, merged with GTE, the largest independent telephone company, to form Verizon. In 2005, following a protracted bidding war with rival RBOC Qwest, Verizon announced that it would acquire long distance company MCI. The Verizon and MCI merger closed on January 6, 2006. NYNEX Corporation (pronounced Nine-x) was a telephone company which served five New England states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) as well as New York. ... Categories: Corporation stubs | Communications companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Telephone companies | Public Utilities ... Categories: Corporation stubs | Communications companies of the United States | Defunct companies | Telephone companies | Public Utilities ... General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) was the largest of the independent US telephone companies during the days of the Bell System. ... This article or section should include material from Bell Atlantic This article or section should include material from GTE Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is a local exchange telephone company formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic, a former Bell Operating Company, and GTE, which was the largest independant local exchange... MCI logo MCI, Inc. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

On January 16, 2007, Verizon announced that it would split off Verizon New England operations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont into a new Bell Operating Company, which then will be spun off and merged with FairPoint Communications. The deal is currently pending approval. is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Verizon New England, Inc. ... Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area  Ranked 46th  - Total 9,359 sq mi (24,239 km²)  - Width 68 miles (110 km)  - Length 190 miles (305 km)  - % water 3. ... Official language(s) None Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area  Ranked 45th  - Total 9,620 sq mi (24,923 km²)  - Width 80 miles (130 km)  - Length 160 miles (260 km)  - % water 3. ... Bell System trademark used by AT&T and affiliated companies from 1921 to 1939 The Bell System was a trademark and service mark used by the US telecommunications company American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) and its affiliated companies to co-brand their extensive circuit-switched telephone network and their... FairPoint Communications, Inc. ...

Qwest

In 2000, US West was merged into Qwest, a Denver-based fiber optics long-distance company. U S West, Inc. ... Qwest Communications International Inc. ... This article refers to the state capital of Colorado. ... Fiber Optic strands An optical fiber in American English or fibre in British English is a transparent thin fiber for transmitting light. ...

Cincinnati Bell

• The former independent Bell System franchise Cincinnati Bell, which was not part of the 1984 divestiture because AT&T only held a minority stake in the company, remains independent of the RBOCs.

The Bell System was a trademark and service mark used by the US telecommunications company American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) and its affiliated companies to co-brand their extensive circuit-switched telephone network and their affiliations with each other. ... Cincinnati Bell is the dominant telephone company for Cincinnati, Ohio and its nearby suburbs in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. ...

Bell Canada

• Bell Canada was divested from AT&T in 1956 and not part of the 1984 agreement.

Bell Canada Enterprises (TSX: BCE, NYSE: BCE), legally BCE Inc. ...

Notes

1. The acronym RHC for Regional Holding Company is also sometimes seen.

See also

• Incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC)
• Competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC)
• Bellcore (now known as Telcordia)
• Local access and transport area (LATA)
• Bell System Divestiture

ILEC or Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier is a local telephone company that was in existence at the time of the breakup of AT&T, for example, the Baby Bells and GTE. They compete with upstart Competitive Local Exchange Carriers. ... A Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), in the United States, is a telecommunications provider company (sometimes called a carrier) that competes with other, already established carriers (generally the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC)). Local exchange carriers (LECs) are divided into incumbent (ILECs) and competitive (CLECs). ... Telcordia Technologies, formerly Bell Communications Research, Inc. ... Telcordia Technologies, formerly Bell Communications Research, Inc. ... Local access and transport area (LATA) is a term used in U.S. telecommunications regulation. ... The break up of AT&T was initiated in 1974 by the U.S. Department of Justice anti-trust suit against the telephone monopoly. ...

External links

• Pre-divestiture RBOC map (from Bell System Memorial)
• Table of RBOC changes (from Bell System Memorial)
• Qwest Communications
• AT&T Inc.
• Verizon Communications
• Cincinnati Bell
• Yahoo! Finance Article on AT&T's purchase of BellSouth