"Maybe now the Bell monopolies will put their efforts toward opening local markets to competition rather than obstructing competition."

The merger requires an exemption from a 1982 landmark judicial order that led to the breakup of the Bell monopoly.

The unions continue to pretend the old Bell monopoly still exists.

And it has stuck to smaller markets where it is the only competitor to the former local Bell monopoly.

For years his name was branded on every Bell telephone set, and his patents were a mainstay of what has been popularly called the "Bell monopoly."

The Edison patents kept the Bell monopoly viable into the 20th century, by which time the network was more important than the instrument.

This restructuring truly demonstrated that the long-distance market and local market, for the majority of consumers, will be ceded to the Bell monopolies.

"This decision is not in the public interest, but is instead in the interest of four Bell monopolies."

The new arrangement is an undeniable improvement over the old Bell monopoly, but it still has plenty of problems.

The industry was once a labor stronghold after the Bell monopolies became unionized in the late 1930's.

"Maybe now the Bell monopolies will put their efforts toward opening local markets to competition rather than obstructing competition."

The merger requires an exemption from a 1982 landmark judicial order that led to the breakup of the Bell monopoly.

The unions continue to pretend the old Bell monopoly still exists.

And it has stuck to smaller markets where it is the only competitor to the former local Bell monopoly.

For years his name was branded on every Bell telephone set, and his patents were a mainstay of what has been popularly called the "Bell monopoly."

The Edison patents kept the Bell monopoly viable into the 20th century, by which time the network was more important than the instrument.

This restructuring truly demonstrated that the long-distance market and local market, for the majority of consumers, will be ceded to the Bell monopolies.

"This decision is not in the public interest, but is instead in the interest of four Bell monopolies."

The new arrangement is an undeniable improvement over the old Bell monopoly, but it still has plenty of problems.

The industry was once a labor stronghold after the Bell monopolies became unionized in the late 1930's.