An operating telephone company owned by the AT&T Bell System and reporting directly to AT&T general headquarters. The 22 BOCs were spun off from AT&T as a result of the Modified Final Judgement (MFJ), also known as the Divestiture Decree, which took effect January 1, 1984. At that point, the BOCs were formed into seven Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs). See also
Bell System,
MFJ, and
RBOC.