Bob, you've got it backwards. SBC bought AT&T and assumed their identity.
This is precisely why service has suffered across much of the former Baby Bells' territory for the past twenty years. SBC swallowed most of them up and implemented a sales-over-service business model. In 1997 they ripped out Pacific Bell's recently installed TV service that introduced a revolutionary Tivo-like device, developed before Tivo was even formed, saying it was a ridiculous concept. Those jokers embraced the idea of work harder (but sorry, we're too broke to give you a raise this year), not smarter.
Their lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. have relaxed telecom regulations and compromised network reliability. Their push to eliminate the mandated maintenance of copper networks while dragging their feet on spending to install fiber is why in my centralized and urban neighborhood, peppered with CEO types who can afford top notch high speed internet packages, AT&T offers top download speeds of a medieval 1.5Mbps.
I'd say "Don't get me started," but you did. I lived through years of tumult and suspense due to reorganizational announcements on almost a monthly basis and the constant mantra of cutting costs to pay for yet another takeover. The greed of SBC executives harmed employees and subscribers alike, and they have twisted the knife by desecrating the AT&T brand.
