Baby Bell

noun

1. one of the seven regional telephone companies formed after the breakup of the Bell system in 1983.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Baby Bell¹

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90

Example Sentences

Today’s AT&T is a bulked-up Baby Bell, SBC Communications, finally acquiring its Ma, so to speak, in 2005 and taking the name.

From Seattle Times

But if it happens at all, that will be very difficult – breaking up AT&T lasted a decade, from the 1974 lawsuit to the 1984 launch of the “Baby Bell” companies.

From Salon

Having worked for a “baby Bell” for much of my career, I personally witnessed the good and the bad from AT&T’s 1980s teardown.

From New York Times

AT&T, whether the old Ma Bell or the rebranded one acquired by “Baby Bell” SBC, has never been good about cloaking desperation.

From Seattle Times

Last year, it bought satellite television business DirecTV for $49 billion, making the former Baby Bell the country’s largest pay television provider.

From Wall Street Journal