The Telecommunications Industry

The telephone used to be a luxury item. Today 95% of Americans have telephone service and many carry their phones wherever they go. Few inventions have contributed more to modern culture and society than the telephone yet almost no one recognized the true potential upon its introduction. This book presents the development of the telephone from its invention in 1875 to the present day. Over the course of the 20th century the interactions between corporate technological and legislative and judicial factors determined the course of the industry. Battles were fought over patents monopolies regulation and deregulation. AT&T became for a time the largest company in the world-and a protected monopoly. The move from monopoly to competitive services was long and difficult and its complexity has only grown.McMaster considers the numerous roles of players who affected the industry including telecommunications carriersespecially AT&Tthe government and its agencies and the courts. Technology''s role is also examined throughout telephone''s development and maturation. McMaster chronicles the fascinating story of the telephone''s rise its spread to ubiquity in today''s society and the billion-dollar industry it has engendered. This accessible history is ideal for students seeking a clear concise introduction to one of the landmark American industries of the 20th century.