Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) are local telephone companies that were created after the breakup of AT&T in 1984. This breakup aimed to promote competition in the telecommunications industry by separating local services from long-distance services. The RBOCs were responsible for providing local telephone service in specific geographic areas across the United States. The original RBOCs included companies like Bell Atlantic, Pacific Telesis, and Southwestern Bell. Over time, many of these companies merged or rebranded, leading to the formation of larger telecommunications firms. Today, RBOCs continue to play a significant role in delivering local phone and internet services to millions of customers.