Historical Events tagged with "AT&T"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Economics & Industry

Divestiture of AT&T Bell System Companies

January 1st, 1984 41 years ago

The original American Telephone & Telegraph Company was divested of its 22 Bell System companies due to the settlement of a 1974 antitrust lawsuit. This marked a significant restructuring of the telecommunications industry in the United States, intended to foster competition and minimize monopoly power. The divestiture led to the creation of seven independent Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), changing the landscape of the market for telecommunications services nationwide.

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Economics & Industry

The Breakup of the AT&T Bell System

December 31st, 1983 41 years ago

The United States government mandated the breakup of AT&T, which resulted in the divestiture of its regional companies known as Baby Bells. This decision stemmed from concerns over monopolistic practices, leading to the separation of local and long-distance services. The breakup fundamentally changed the telecommunications landscape, promoting competition and innovation within the industry.

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Economics & Industry

AT&T's Historic Divestiture of Subsidiaries

January 8th, 1982 43 years ago

AT&T agreed to divest 22 local telephone companies, ending its monopoly. This agreement came after antitrust actions by the U.S. government aimed to increase competition in the telecommunications industry. The divestiture became a monumental shift for telecommunications in the U.S., promoting consumer choice. As a result, seven regional holding companies emerged from the restructure.

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Politics & Government

DOJ's Anti-Trust Suit Against AT&T Begins

November 20th, 1974 50 years ago

The United States Department of Justice initiated its final anti-trust lawsuit against AT&T Corporation, targeting its monopolistic practices in the telecommunications sector. This legal action was aimed at dismantling what was known as the Bell System, which had a dominant influence over the telephone industry in the United States. The DOJ alleged that AT&T's control stifled competition and innovation. The trial proceedings and subsequent legal outcomes ultimately led to the breakup of AT&T, marking a significant transition in the landscape of telecommunications and competition in the industry.

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Technology & Innovation

The Start of Unix Time Era

January 1st, 1970 55 years ago

Unix time marks the start of a timekeeping system that counts the number of seconds elapsed since 00:00:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on January 1, 1970. This system has become pivotal in computer science and is widely used in various software programs, systems, and databases. The use of Unix time simplifies the storage and manipulation of date and time data in computing environments. Due to its universality, it provides an essential framework for cross-platform compatibility among systems.

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