A Lesson From the Landmark AT&T Breakup: Both a Sector-specific Regulator and Antitrust Enforcers Were Needed

This paper discusses how the work of regulators and antitrust enforcers, working independently and with separate mandates, nevertheless complemented each other, to lead to the breakup of the AT&T Bell phone monopoly in 1984—marking a win for consumers and telephone competitors alike. The paper offers a deeper understanding of the history of the breakup and proposes that regulation can lay the groundwork for both more effective antitrust enforcement and the advancement of other public interest benefits. Learn more in our accompanying blog post by paper author and Public Knowledge Senior Policy Fellow, Al Kramer, and press statement.