RBOC (Regional Bell Operating Company)

One of the local exchange carriers created by the breakup of AT&T in 1983. The number of RBOCs has shrunk through mergers since then from seven to just four: Verizon (originally Bell Atlantic and Nynex), Qwest (originally US West), BellSouth and SBC (originally Southwestern Bell and Pacific Telesys). They compete for local business with CLECs.

RBOCs were originally allowed to offer services only within specific regional areas, or LATAs. Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, they are allowed to move into long distance and compete with interexechange carriers as they prove to state and federal agencies that they have opened their local markets to competition.

Also see ILEC.

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