United States v. AT&T

United States v. AT&T was a 1982 antitrust case in which the government argued that AT&T’s monopoly on telephone services stifled competition and innovation. The case led to a settlement in which AT&T agreed to divest its local phone companies, breaking up the dominant monopoly. This restructuring, known as the Bell System breakup, aimed to foster competition in telecommunications, leading to more choices and innovation for consumers. The case is a key example of antitrust efforts to promote fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices in essential industries.