AT&T Communications (1984–2010)
| Company type | Division (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Predecessor | AT&T Corporation |
| Founder | AT&T Corporation |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Interexchange carrier and long-distance telephony services |
| Parent | AT&T Corporation |
AT&T Communications, Inc. functioned as a branch of AT&T Corporation, operating through 23 subsidiaries to offer interexchange carrier and long-distance telephony services.
AT&T Long Lines
Originating as a network of wires and cables, AT&T Long Lines transitioned into a microwave radio relay system that provided both domestic and international long-distance communication. By the 1970s, it managed approximately 95% of long-distance calls within the United States and handled 70% of intercity telephone traffic.
Open Wire
In its early days, AT&T relied on open wire lines to deliver long-distance telephone service, successfully linking New York with Denver by 1911. To extend coverage across the continent, repeater towers were installed. Starting in the 1920s, the company introduced coaxial cables and carrier system technology to increase transmission capacity.
Microwave relay network
Technological progress during World War II facilitated the creation of the TD-2 microwave relay system by Bell Labs and Western Electric, capable of transmitting thousands of calls alongside television signals between urban centers. The inaugural route connected New York and Chicago in 1950.
Built amid Cold War tensions, this network was engineered for resilience against nuclear strikes, serving both military and commercial communication needs. Key installations featured reinforced concrete buildings equipped with backup power sources and air filtration systems. Numerous sites were safeguarded from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects and incorporated automatic rerouting to maintain connectivity during failures. A prime example of this robust architecture is the facility at 33 Thomas Street in Manhattan.
The nationwide network commenced operations on August 17, 1951, enabling coast-to-coast television broadcasts including Edward R. Murrow's See It Now, American Bandstand, and Monday Night Football. Prior to the advent of satellite communications in the 1970s, this infrastructure supported regional sports programming distribution.
AT&T Long Lines briefly issued TWX, aimed at corporate clients using its equipment and services; the publication was discontinued in 1952.
By the late 1960s, microwave relay systems had become the predominant method for main U.S. communication links, surpassing coaxial cable usage. In the following decades, fiber optic technology and satellite systems complemented and ultimately supplanted microwave networks.
Direct distance dialing
Starting in 1950, residents in New York City's five boroughs could be reached directly from certain areas in New Jersey by dialing '1-1' followed by a seven-digit number. Although New York City was assigned area code 212 under AT&T's nationwide numbering plan introduced in 1947, it was not until 1951 that customers in Englewood, New Jersey dialed NYC using this prefix. Conversely, northeastern New Jersey numbers were accessible from New York City by dialing "11+" plus the local number.
The implementation of area code 201 for New Jersey calls originating from New York City occurred later during the 1950s. By 1951, locations such as Englewood and Teaneck could connect to Nassau County on Long Island via area code 516, as well as to Westchester, Rockland, and parts of Orange and Putnam Counties through area code 914.
In the early twentieth century, telephone companies established a "Separations and Settlements" framework to allocate revenue from long-distance calls between Long Lines and local providers. Although advancements in microwave and high-capacity transmission reduced long-haul expenses mid-century, call pricing remained elevated because local companies increased their revenue shares to support subsidized local service.
AT&T Communications
Following a restructuring of assets, AT&T Communications emerged as one of the three principal sales divisions within AT&T. This entity was segmented into 22 operating companies, each corresponding to Bell Operating Company regions that were spun off during the reorganization.
Currently active operating companies include:
- AT&T Communications of Indiana, G.P.
- AT&T Communications of New York, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Virginia, LLC
- AT&T Communications of Washington D.C., LLC
Several others were consolidated into AT&T Corp., such as:
- AT&T Communications of California, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Delaware, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Illinois, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Maryland, LLC
- AT&T Communications of Michigan, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of New England, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Nevada, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of NJ, L.P.
- AT&T Communications of Ohio, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Pennsylvania, LLC
- AT&T Communications of the Midwest, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of the Mountain States, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of the Pacific Northwest, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of the South Central States, LLC
- AT&T Communications of the Southern States, LLC
- AT&T Communications of the Southwest, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of West Virginia, Inc.
- AT&T Communications of Wisconsin, L.P.
In response to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, AT&T Communications began offering Bell Operating Company services at reduced rates to directly compete with the Baby Bells—namely Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis, Southwestern Bell, and US West. This initiative was supported by an extensive advertising campaign titled AT&T CallVantage.
Merger between AT&T and SBC Communications
In 2005, SBC Communications completed its acquisition of AT&T Corp., which oversaw AT&T Communications. Prior to this merger, SBC operated SBC Long Distance LLC within its service area to provide competitive long-distance offerings. After the merger, the focus for AT&T Communications expanded beyond the initial 13-state Bell Operating Company footprint.
By 2010, both AT&T Communications and its New England subsidiary were merged into AT&T Corp.. From 2012 through 2017, most operating units under AT&T Communications were absorbed into AT&T Corp., leaving only a select few in Indiana, New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. On July 28, 2017, a newly formed corporate division named AT&T Communications was introduced to unify key business segments including AT&T Mobility, DirecTV, U-Verse, AT&T Business, as well as the Technology and Operations Group—an organizational shift aligned with strategic direction under CEO John Stankey.