The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is a mile stone in the Telecom industry, just 12 short years after the break up as AT&T; we are no finally beginning to see healthy competition. Long distance companies can provide local service, cable companies can offer long distance and long distance can offer cable. Anyone can be involved in the ever growing Telecommunications Network. Although its success or its failure is really yet to be determined, in a way …showed first 75 words of 383 total…

…showed last 75 words of 383 total…Atlantic merged to be Verizon). Local service providers are natural monopolies. Where else could you go in New Jersey for local service? If you don’t have the money you really can not play can you? The reason for the Act was that the industry is a natural monopoly and a second competitor could not survive. It was also done to protect each and every consumer looking for the best service for the best prices.