ROBC – Regional Bell Operating Company. With the divesture of ATT in 1984, seven regional companies, also called “Baby Bells” were formed to supply local telephone service with ATT as the Long-Distance Carrier. These seven companies were; Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis (also known as Pacific Bell), Southwestern Bell and US West. Not only were these companies the RBOC, but they would also be considered the LEC (Local Exchange Carrier). The term Regional Holding Company (RHC) is also sometimes used.
Over the course of the past 23 years there have been mergers and other acquisition as well as a change in the telecommunications law in 1996 that allowed the RBOCs to request and be granted the rights to supply Long-Distance services where once there were 8 companies (ATT and the 7 ROBCs) now are three.
Verizon was formed after the Merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX as well as the acquistion of GTE an independent carrier. Since then Verizon has also merged with MCI (A Long-Distance company).
Qwest a Denver based Fiber Long Distance company acquired US WEST.
The New ATT was formed after SBC acquired ATT and took the name AT&T in 2005. SouthWestern Bell took the name SBC when it acquired Pacific Telesis in 1997. SBC then acquired AmeriTech in 1999. Then in 2006 the new AT&T merged with BellSouth.
© 2007 Steven G. Atkinson – All Rights Reserved
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Steven G. Atkinson is the author of the book – Technology Tips for Small Business. For more information on the book visit the site for for book – Technology Tips for Small Business.
