An RBOC is a Regional Bell Operating Company.
The RBOC’s were created as part of the MFJ (Modified Final Judgement) which resulted in the breakup of AT&T in 1983.
AT&T was allowed to keep its long-distance services, but its national local service was broken up into seven geographic regions.
An RBOC can also be referred to as a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC).
The RBOC’s
The seven original RBOC’s were:
- Ameritech
- Bell Atlantic
- BellSouth
- NYNEX
- Pacific Bell
- Southwestern Bell
- US West
NYNEX became part of Bell Atlantic in 1997 and is now part of Verizon.
Pacific Bell was purchased by SBC in 1998.
Southwestern Bell became SBC in 1998.
Ameritech was purchased by SBC in 1999.
Bell Atlantic became Verizon in 2000.
US West merged into Qwest Communications in 2000 and then into CenturyLink in 2011.
BellSouth is the only RBOC to retain its original identity.
