The big breakup

As a former telephone operator,I could not let this historical date go by without giving it an honorable mention.26 years ago today,the AT&T company was divested of its 22 "RBOC"s,or regional Bell operated companies under terms of a federal antitrust agreement ruled on by Judge Harold H.Greene.While the breakup brought with it increased competition in the long distance telephone market,it forced local telephone companies to raise their rates dramatically and some customers felt that the standard of service declined with it.Local Bell companies flourished despite the divestiture and today we have more choices for local telephone service than we could have ever imagined back in the Bell heyday.Unfortuantely,increased competition and automation has sounded a death knell for the very heart and soul of local telephone companies-the operators.Some estimates say that there has been as much as a 40% decline in the number of telephone operators since the 1970's and while technology has reduced costs,it has also eliminated alot of jobs along the way.Whereas 30 years ago when you dialed "0" you reached an operator instantly that was in an office in your lcoal area,when you now dial "0" you reach a series of recordings directing you to push whatever number corresponds to your need and you will probably be talking to an operator somewhere hundreds,if not thousands,of miles away.The move has increased profits for the Bells but sacrificed the personal service that so many people desired and required.So the pros and cons of divestiture are about equal in my opinion.Nevertheless,we cannot go back in time and change any of it and on a positive note,we have many more choices and options for telephony today,including Voip,or internet-based telephone service and the ever popular cellular telephone.