In 1934 the U.S. Government allowed AT&T to become a regulated monopoly. This meant AT&T's monopoly rather than being broken up for violating antitrust law would be protected by the federal government. Then in 1956 and again in 1984 realizing how bad letting AT&T have such a monopoly is for consumers regulators broke up AT&T's Ma Bell telephone monopoly into a number of Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC's) or Baby Bells. These RBOC's included AT&T, Verizon, US West whcih became part of Qwest which is now owned by CenturyLink, and Cincinati Bell among a number of other companies. Prior to 1956 Bell Canada was even part of the Ma Bell System.

Ever since the 2000s a number of Baby Bells have re-merged. Instead of a single Ma Bell telecommunications monopoly controlling telephones and the Internet today we have two Ma Bells -- a duopoly of AT&T and Verizon. We have a Ma Bell East and a Ma Bell West now apparently with two major telecommunications monopolies AT&T and Verizon controlling our communications. AT&T seems to want to return to the "good old days" of monopoly telephone service only this time it wants a Ma Cell for the wireless market and reconstitution of the Ma Bell land-line business through mergers with SBC Communications and Bell South to monopolize wire-line broadband internet connections. This is very troubling for consumers. Short story short: Qwest should not have been allowed to merge with US West let alone CenturyLink afterward, Verizon Wireless should not have gotten AllTel Wireless and AT&T Mobility should not be allowed to merge with T Mobil USA. They've already made wire-line broadband a duopoly market don't let wireless become a duopoly as well.

Sincerely, Mr. Maneesh Pangasa 3562 S. 18th Avenue Yuma AZ 85365 (928) 446-8999