[kw71]

It depends on where you were, because before the breakup there were still regional operating companies with their own management. In the 70s and 80s we had service from C&P Telephone, and did not have any of the problems that customers of Pacific Bell or New York Telephone were so familiar with. The good times lasted until the dawn of local competition (Bell Atlantic wouldn't install a line the next day because they weren't allowed to do it faster than a clec.) Then when Bell Atlantic bought NYNEX we started seeing all the terrible service problems that New Yorkers held so dear.