1.   A tale of two telephone companies illustrates the point.

2.   But telephone companies building long-distance, high-capacity transmission lines have not been slow to take up the challenge.

3.   Cable companies are cooperating to establish fiber networks involving different operators so that they can compete with the telephone companies.

4.   Did you know you can rent a fax machine from the telephone company?

5.   In one case, a law passed last year required telephone companies to design their equipment to allow for wiretaps.

6.   It is possible for telephone companies to make profit without charging unreasonable rates.

7.   Netcom also has the expertise of working with Internet customers that a telephone company would need badly to succeed in the business.

8.   Playing on the defense are telephone companies and cable television companies, providers that have enjoyed monopoly positions for Decades.

9.   Regional telephone companies, long-distance carriers, and cable television operators are among the giants considering Internet forays.

10.   The repairman at the telephone company no longer makes his repairs.