[HAL9000]

It's a sorry development, but the Bell monopolies have done everything possible to destroy competition.

[misterrob]

As they should. It's their network paid for by them. Why should the Bell companies' shareholders have to suffer? Today you can use wireless and in some cases MSO networks for voice services. Plus, the Voice over IP lines don't receive the same regulation that the RBOCs do. And, the governments are happy with their supposed monopoly arrangement taking taxes that amount to over 11% of my phone bill.

The telecom act was responsible in part for the sector's rise and crash. Forced unbundling of the network was basically a property grab by the Congress. It allowed a bunch of weak companies who couldn't stand on their own to live off of a competitor.