> It became illegal because competitor operators were a threat to AT&T. Actually you're wrong; it was made illegal because most people in command back then tho

> It became illegal because competitor operators were a threat to AT&T. Actually you're wrong; it was made illegal because most people in command back then thought that it made more sense. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly. Free-market religion is relatively new, and remains largely questionable.