Similar to the old AT&T monopoly. You were not allowed to connect any non-AT&T equipment to the network.
You could buy an answering machine, but could not (legally) hook it up as it was not invented by AT&T, and they did not have one until the patents expired.
Most people ended up renting their phones and other equipment from AT&T. In some cases, that was the only option. Being able to buy a phone was a novel experience for many people.
Breaking up AT&T led to a lot of innovation, and communication options that were at most science fiction at the time. The monopoly was probably necessary at one point, but lasted way too long. Let's not let these monopolies last too long.
You could buy an answering machine, but could not (legally) hook it up as it was not invented by AT&T, and they did not have one until the patents expired.
Most people ended up renting their phones and other equipment from AT&T. In some cases, that was the only option. Being able to buy a phone was a novel experience for many people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1983/01/31/m...
Breaking up AT&T led to a lot of innovation, and communication options that were at most science fiction at the time. The monopoly was probably necessary at one point, but lasted way too long. Let's not let these monopolies last too long.