I recall the Bell Company was the largest company in the World & an entrenched Monopoly. My grandmother worked for Northern Bell when she retired w/ 25+ years service. Seems like the Baby Bells would handle the Local Telephone services & ATT would handle the long distance services. After the breakup, it reduced ATT value to only 30% of what it once was as Bell Company.
Today with all the merger & acquisitions occurring. Mature companies who don't acquire others will be on the outside of the growth curve. As the Economy has begun to kick into high gear. There are more jobs than skilled workers to fill positions. Which means more folks have more money to spend on phone/Content up grades.
Not sure if it's all Good or Bad as of yet. Just know you will have fewer companies to choose from for the content you find acceptable for viewing or utilizing for everyday necessities.
Disney wants to buy Fox assets, but will Comcast be another looser if they don't participate in the Bidding war for Fox? If you are a Fox Share Holder, you are sitting on a money making asset if bidding war heats up. After the Judges announcement, Look at "after hours" action yesterday for FOXA, ..the whole segment of similar business all went up in value today.