Baby Bell

Any of seven telecommunications companies that were formed from AT&T after its antitrust break-up in 1984. In that year, AT&T was determined to be so large that it violated antitrust law in the United States and it was forced to spin off seven subsidiaries, which became known as the baby bells. Few of the baby bells still exist as independent companies, as most have gone through a series of mergers and acquisitions in the years since.

Baby Bell

One of several integrated-communications providers that were formerly part of AT&T but became independent in 1984 following AT&T's court-ordered divestiture. The seven original Baby Bells were once operating subsidiaries of AT&T that provided local and intrastate long-distance service.

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References in periodicals archive

The takeover will also enable the new AT&T, which was itself taken over by former Baby Bell SBC Communications last November, to extend its reach in the south-east of the US.

Telecoms firm rings the changes

In most cases, that's not a problem, because the Baby Bells have expertise in delivering high-quality voice service.

VoIP myth busters: using internet technology to deliver voice service has finally become ready for prime time. Learn the truths behind the myths surrounding this technology--and why more institutions are signing on

When Luther talked with Builder, he admitted he was doubling back, taking an especially hard look at packages from the Baby Bells, also known as regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs).

Coming soon: triple play: the telecoms and cable providers are storming into town promising an exciting new world of bundled voice, internet access, and video services. But can they deliver?

And that's why the Baby Bells and their long-distance counterparts are so justifiably upset.

Psst ... Janet--can you keep the FCC distracted?

Yell is the UK's dominant publisher of telephone directories and is the leading independent directory publisher in the United States, where it competes against the Baby Bells. Apax and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst bought Yell from BT Group for pounds 2.1 billion and then floated the business last July in the largest London share flotation for two years.

Yell has something to shout about

Alltel (NYSE: AT), a telephone company that services rural spots the Baby Bells overlook, is another pick.

Pick your way to profits: Frontline Capital Advisors' Clifford Mpare sees an up year for stocks, but it pays to be picky. (Private Screening)

The Baby Bells, which own the wires connecting the vast majority of US homes and businesses to global communications networks and lease access, at regulated rates, to other companies that want to provide voice or data services, may have escaped the worst of the current telecom turmoil.

Baby Bells on hold. (Current Research)

Even after the breakup of the Bell system in 1984, AT&T and the regional Bell operating companies (the "Baby Bells") had remained bulwarks of the economy.

The great telecom implosion: it's not just individual companies that are going bankrupt. The industry as a whole has gone from market reform to market ruin

The bill would increase the power of the Baby Bells to offer their services to American homes.

McCain broadband bill would hurt local governments

When Congress passed the Telecommunications Act in 1996 and broke up the Baby Bells' monopoly in local phone service, competition was expected to heat up, in much the same way that competition for long distance had a decade before.

Dial tone update: what's the status of competition for local telephone service? (Communications)

The Baby Bells are reluctant to make a large investment in broadband infrastructure if they will be forced to let their competitors use that infrastructure.

Solving the broadband paradox: the technology is ready, but the market is not. Deregulation, not subsidies, will speed adoption. (Broadband Policy)

These were then organized into seven "Baby Bells" to provide regional phone service.

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