Until the early 1980s, virtually all telephones in the United States were rented rather than privately owned. The AT&T company held a monopoly on telecommunications and leased phones to customers for a monthly fee ($1.50 to $4.60 depending on the model).

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6 Fast Facts about Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell, best known as the inventor of the telephone, also made other significant contributions to society during his extraordinary life. He created other useful tools and devices, he made a lifelong commitment to deaf education, and he helped fund some of the most influential