Summary: Seems like forever since AT&T was known as “Ma Bell” since it owned long distance and local service, as well as equipment. And that equipment was indestructible. Once our government decided we would be financially better off with a broken apart AT&T, the “Baby Bells” eventually ate each other up like Pac Man. Now Verizon, the foremost “baby” of the Bells, is the chief competitor of its mother, dear ol’ AT&T.