Judge places conditions on AT&T divestiture

July 11, 1983

US District Judge Harold Greene said he will approve the reorganization plan for American Telephone & Telegraph Co. once certain changes are made. The aim is to keep the cost of local telephone service down.

Judge Greene, presiding over the breakup of the world's largest private company, said that AT&T could not use the ''Bell'' name. However, he ruled, the 22 local operating companies that AT&T is divesting can use it.

The judge ordered that the local companies be given additional patent privileges. He also said AT&T would be responsible for certain costs associated with the local companies going on their own if they were not able to make them up from revenues.