Part 10/11:
By the 1920s, AT&T had nearly rounded up its competition, acquiring over 200 telephone companies and achieving monopolistic control over both local exchanges and long-distance traffic. This consolidation ushered in an era of stability, unprecedented growth, and a commitment to maintaining service standards.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Growth and Control
The transformation of Bell into AT&T illustrates the complexities of innovation, market competition, and corporate strategy. Although initially conceived as a means to replicate and expand telegraphic networks, AT&T's evolution into a comprehensive telecommunications empire reshaped communications in American society and laid the groundwork for future monopolistic practices.