Comment by direwolf20

The Bell breakup is the only reason we have communication technologies newer than $2/minute telephone calls or (for the same price) Telex.

Bell had one good side, that was Bell Labs. How was it funded? By overcharging the whole country for communications, pocketing 90% of the profit, and using the last 10% to find ways to lower costs to provide the service — cost decreases that would not be passed onto customers.

It was even worse than it is right now with the regional internet monopolies.