AT&T Monopoly Broken: End of Bell System Era
The U.S. government dismantled the AT&T Bell System, mandating the breakup of its monopoly into seven independent regional companies. This action shattered the era of guaranteed universal service and fixed rates, sparking a fierce competition that eventually drove down costs and accelerated the development of modern telecommunications technology.
December 31, 1983
43 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on December 31
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Belisarius took Syracuse without a siege. The Ostrogothic garrison saw his fleet, counted the soldiers, and simply surrendered the keys. He'd conquered the enti…
Vikings crash into Berkshire's forces at Englefield, only to stumble back toward Reading after Æthelwulf's men slaughter many Danes. This sharp defeat buys Wess…
Henry IV surrendered his crown at Ingelheim after his own son, Henry V, led a successful rebellion against him. This forced abdication ended the elder Henry’s d…
The boy emperor Tran Thai Tong took the Vietnamese throne through marriage to the last Ly monarch, ending 216 years of Ly Dynasty rule. The new Tran Dynasty wou…
The Muslim defenders had held out for three months behind Palma's walls. When they finally opened the gates on December 31, James I rode in with 16,000 men — ne…
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