I have added another article to Best Rate Discount Long Distance called Searching for Cheap Long Distance Service. It simply amazes me how many consumers still have no idea how much they are being overcharged for long distance service. Many still pay over 10¢ per minute when they could be spending less than 5¢ per minute, without sacrificing call quality or customer service.

I have added an article to Best Rate Discount Long Distance. It is titled "Discount Long Distance Explained". I wrote it to explain how long distance companies can sell service so cheaply. I hope it will help the average consumer understand how discount long distance differs from casual rate long distance from the provider.

In the early 1980's AT&T was found by the Federal Communications Commision (FCC), to be a monopoly, and  in violation of fair business practices. As a result of seven years of anti-trust proceedings, AT&T was divested of 22 local  bell operating companies. The reason for this action was to increase competition in the telecom industry. It worked. In the 90's dozens of new companies popped up offering services from long distance to local calling. And costs for these services dropped dramatically. Even consumers in the market for dedicated communications benefited. There are now dozens of companies offering T1 Service at a fraction of the previous cost. But recently, the industry trend is toward consolidation. Just last year AT&T was aquired by SBC, one of the RBOC's it was stripped of twenty years ago. Hopefully, this trend will have no ill effect on the competition and pricing of services in the years to come.