The nation's longtime telephone monopoly, nicknamed Ma Bell, and its regional successors were prohibited from giving any public phone call preference in how quickly it was connected.

国家的长期电话垄断企业，绰号“马贝尔”，及其地区继任者，被禁止为任何公用电话的连接速度提供优惠。

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However, the Cricket Wireless operator would only provide a short-term solution to Ma Bell's very long-term woes.

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In 1984, the federal government broke up Ma Bell creating a relatively competitive telecommunications industry.

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Ma Bell is long gone, and so are most oligopolies with high barriers to entry.

FORBES: Ma Bell's Long Legacy Of Unsustainable Pensions Is Alive and Well