AT& T TIMELINE

AT& T, originally the American Telephone and Telegraph Co., was created in 1885 as a subsidiary of American Bell, co- founded by Alexander Graham Bell.

1899 American Telephone and Telegraph, an American Bell subsidiary, acquires its assets and becomes parent company of Bell System.

1962 AT& T launches Telstar I, the first commercial communications satellite, adding to its copper wire and microwave transmission capabilities.

1984 Regional Bell operating companies or “Baby Bells” created when AT& T agrees to become long distance company and get out of local service in settlement of U. S. antitrust suit.

1994 AT& T Wireless created after acquisition of McCaw Cellular.

1998 AT& T gets back into local telephone business — in wake of 1996 Telecom Act — with acquisition of local business telephone provider TCG. Also expands global reach with acquisition of IBM Global Network.

1998 AT& T merges with TCI in $ 48 billion deal, forming the nation’s second- largest cable company. Two years later, it acquires MediaOne and becomes AT& T Broadband. 2002 AT& T Broadband merges with Comcast.

2005 Southwestern Bell Corp., one of the Baby Bells, acquires AT& T for $ 16 billion and takes the AT& T name. 2013 AT& T buys Leap Wireless for $ 1.2 billion and closes deal for NextWave Wireless.

2014 With The Chernin Group, AT& T forms Otter Media with a $ 500 million commitment to invest in streaming video. It buys a majority stake in YouTube network Fullscreen.

2015 AT& T acquires satellite TV service DirecTV for $ 48.5 billion. 2016 AT& T completes acquisition of QuickPlay Media, a streaming video tech company that delivers over- the- top video and TV Everywhere.