Word: belled
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Curiously, the trustbusters have doubts about whether or not a Bell breakup would improve the economics or quality of communications service. They do not seriously quarrel with Bell's argument that the industry as presently structured has produced the world's best telephone service, and at fairly reasonable costs. They also concede that Bell profits have not been inordinate, in fact have remained relatively static in terms of return on invested capital. Bell's return has remained in the 7% to 7.6% range for more than ten years...
Friendly Tip. Legally, Justice has a strong case for its claim that Bell over the years has unfairly obstructed the interconnection with the AT&T system of non-Western Electric terminal equipment, telephones, satellites, mobile telephones, microwave facilities and data-transmission gear. But the trustbusters' chances of forcing Bell to give up Western Electric are uncertain. They did not succeed in doing so the last time they took on A T & T, in a suit filed during the Truman Administration in 1949 That suit was finally resolved by the Eisenhower Administration. During an informal meeting with...
...consent decree, which suggests Government approval of Bell's ownership of Western Electric, casts a long shadow. In any case, antitrust officials concede privately that they are so uncertain about the possible economic impact if they succeed in their suit that they are undecided as to how hard they should press for their maximum demands. Says one Antitrust Division spokesman: "We're leaving enough room to avoid any possibility of financial destruction of the company or destruction of the national telephone system...
...very least, Justice's wariness raises questions about why it moved against Bell at a time when the economy is so shaky. Part of the answer may he in the play of personalities in a new and still largely undefined Administration. Career trustbusters have long chafed to overturn the Eisenhower Administration consent decree, which they view as an affront to the Antitrust Division. In August 1973, some lower-level Justice staffers dusted off the Bell files and mounted an investigation. After 15 months and two changes of Attorneys...
General, the case landed on the desk of William B. Saxbe, the present Attorney General. Saxbe raised no objections to the Bell project, which seemed to fit in with his and Ford's position on using increased antitrust vigilance in the war on inflation. Saxbe cleared the suit with the President three weeks ago, then gave his trustbusters the green light to file...