..If the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) had delivered on the promises they made in the early 1990s, almost half of America’s households and the vast majority of the nation’s schools would already be wired with high-speed fiber optic networks.

.. The Bells told regulators they would wire more than 44 million households by the year 2000. Then, in many instances, they used those promises to convince regulators to replace traditional rate-of-return regulation with alternative regulatory schemes.

..The new regulatory plans gave the Bells more profits, ultimately making them some of the most profitable companies in the nation. Bell profit margins are more than double that of other regulated utilities and the major long distance phone companies and literally 167% above the profit margins of some of America’s best-known companies.

..Consumers have already paid over $45 billion in extra telephone charges, and continue to pay over $8 billion annually.

How The Bells Stole America’s Digital Future

Who is Paul Darr?

Paul Darr has lived in California, Oregon, Colorado, and currently lives in San Antonio, Texas. Paul is also an Army Veteran, who has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. On the political spectrum Paul is a Libertarian that advocates fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. Paul is currently employed as an IT Manager and is a father of a handsome boy and beautiful daughter. In his free time Paul enjoys reading, using and modifying open source software, gaming, and several other geeky pursuits.