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89-546: According to the group's website, "USA United Generations and USA NEXT are grassroots projects of United Seniors Association (USA) which is celebrating its 13th anniversary as the non-partisan, 1.5 million-plus nationwide grassroots network Uniting the Generations for America’s Future." [1] United Seniors Association took in $ 26.6 million in revenue for 2003 according to the group's IRS form 990. USA Next presents itself as an interest group for senior citizens as an alternative to

178-503: A limited liability company . In a filing with the South Dakota Secretary of State dated January 30, 2024, the reason given for the merger is that New York state law does not allow AT&T Corp. to be directly converted into an LLC. Although acquired by SBC in 2005, AT&T Corp. has remained a separate entity within the corporate structure of AT&T Inc. The merger, said to create “greater operational efficiencies”, will end

267-520: A 171 conference room inn. The AT&T Learning Center won the commercial property known as Somerset County's Land Development Award that year. In 1992, Basking Ridge location would become a corporate headquarters just before AT&T leased the New York City, 550 Madison Avenue building to Sony in 1993. The corporate statue, known as " Golden Boy " was moved in 1992, from the former New York City headquarters to this current New Jersey headquarters. In 1992,

356-407: A Class 1 licensed private helipad , a two-story cafeteria, a wood-burning fireplace, an indoor waterfall at the entrance lobby, and a seven-acre created lake for flood control. The entire property was 130 acre and cost $ 219 million to construct. Later, across the street from the complex, AT&T purchased additional land and established its Learning Center in 1985, at 300 North Maple Avenue, to become

445-616: A DCI creation with funding from AT&T. According to news reports, AT&T opposed the DC Circuit ruling because the decision would impact the company's bottom line. In February 2005, USA Next hired the advertising agency behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign that attacked 2004 presidential candidate John F. Kerry . The group gained instant notoriety late in that month when they placed an advertisement on several conservative web sites and blogs . This advertisement depicted

534-636: A campaign run by Voices for Choices to pressure the Bush administration and Federal Communications Commission to appeal a telecommunications court decision. In addition to being president of USA, Charlie Jarvis is a board member of Defenders of Property Rights , one of several conservative groups that comprise the AT&;T -funded (and DCI Group-operated) "Voices for Choices" coalition front group . The Washington Monthly also exposed Tech Central Station in December 2003 as

623-565: A charitable affiliate, the AARP Andrus Foundation, to award research grants in gerontology. Andrus continued to run AARP until 1967, when she died of a heart attack at age 82. Today, the NRTA is a division within AARP. She wrote her final column for Modern Maturity four days before she died. In 1975, AARP had over seven million members, making it one of the largest membership organizations in

712-411: A corporate art consultant approached, artist sculptor, Elyn Zimmerman , to commission a 30-foot diameter project with fountain and seating area for the conference center courtyard gardens. In 1994, the project was completed and had one 34 ton granite boulder centered on top of the other boulders, which flowed water from the fountain designed by fountain engineer, Dr. Gerald Palevsky. AT&T occupancy at

801-538: A headquarters on 195 Broadway (close to what is now the World Trade Center site ). The property originally belonged to Western Union , of which AT&T held a controlling interest until 1913 when AT&T divested its interest as part of the Kingsbury Commitment . Construction of the current building began in 1912. Designed by William Welles Bosworth , who played a significant role in designing Kykuit ,

890-495: A large red 'x' over a picture of a soldier and a large green check mark over a picture of a just-married homosexual couple. The AARP has no position on marriage rights for homosexuals, but (along with many established groups including the AFL-CIO ) opposed an amendment to Ohio 's state constitution intended to prohibit gay marriage, claiming it would deprive all unmarried cohabitating couples of rights they currently enjoyed. The amendment

979-738: A lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Theodore Frank of the American Enterprise Institute called the lawsuit "frivolous" and Walter Olson of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and Cato Institute criticized the move as placing them in company with Eliot Spitzer for litigiousness. There are seniors who feel that the AARP has a socially liberal outlook, which is not relevant to their needs as elders and may actively go against their values. Seniors who feel this way find conservative groups like USA Next to be more compatible to themselves. This more socially conservative outlook

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1068-641: A more generous benefit, strongly opposed the bill and prompted thousands of AARP members to quit in protest. Six years later, in 2009, AARP endorsed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) proposed by Democratic President Barack Obama, which protected those with pre-existing health conditions, limited the amount that insurance companies could charge because of age, provided tax credits, and improved drug coverage in Medicare. At that time, more than 50 million Americans were without health insurance coverage at some point during

1157-433: A network of undersea surveillance cables for foreign submarine detection. AT&T was probably, according to internal employees, involved in this Sound Surveillance System ( SOSUS ). After completion, AT&T began commercial operations in cable laying for communications in 1955. The implementation of cables assured local and long-distance telephone or data services would provide revenue for the company. AT&T Long Lines

1246-468: A new building at 550 Madison Avenue . This new AT&T Building was designed by Philip Johnson and quickly became an icon of the new Postmodern architectural style. The building was completed in 1984, the very year of the divestiture of the Bell System. The building proved to be too large for the post-divestiture corporation and in 1993, AT&T leased the building to Sony , who then subsequently owned

1335-496: A new insurance market for older Americans. AARP expanded beyond health insurance and began developing other benefits, programs, and services for its members, each tailored to the needs of people aged 55 and older and filling a gap in the marketplace. For example, she created one of the first modern retirement homes, Grey Gables, in Ojai, California, in 1954, designed to keep older residents healthy, active, and socially engaged. Word about

1424-664: A number of federal health and fiscal issues such as Medicare and Social Security, and at the state and local level for better community healthcare services and lower utility rates. It fights age discrimination in the workforce, lobbies for lower prescription drug prices, and educates seniors about consumer fraud through the AARP Fraud Watch Network. AARP also advocates at the state and local level for better community healthcare services and lower utility rates. It has millions of volunteer activists and offices in every state, along with Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and

1513-604: A pilot program for New York retired teachers. The experiment was a financial success, and he and Andrus teamed up to establish a national version – the NRTA Health Plan insured by Continental Casualty Co. in 1955. In 1958, the American Association of Retired Persons Membership (AARP) was incorporated, and reached 130,000 in its first year. The NRTA/AARP insurance model was the first in the United States, opening up

1602-600: A private retirement savings account for employees. As of 2020, eighteen  states had signed Work and Save programs into law. Continuing a theme that began at its founding, AARP during this period used its lobbying efforts to advocate against reductions in Medicare benefits and to protect the federal program that offered health coverage to older Americans. In 2003, AARP supported legislation proposed by Republican President George W. Bush that included partial coverage for prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries, among other things. Democratic congressional leaders, seeking

1691-606: A sale-leaseback agreement valued at $ 650.3 million on the complex with the address previously known as One Verizon Way. In 2017, the 35 acre hotel/conference center was known as the Dolce Basking Ridge Hotel and sold for $ 30 million. On February 15, 2024, AT&T Inc. filed notice with the Kentucky Public Service Commission that it intends to make an internal structural change and merge AT&T Corp. into AT&T Enterprises, Inc., which will become

1780-543: A year. A 1995 AARP survey found that more than half of all victims were aged 50 or older, a group that comprised less than one-third of the U.S. population. In 1995, working with the National Association of Attorneys General and the FBI, AARP helped expose a series of boiler room operations targeting thousands of potential phone fraud victims across the country. Acting as victims, AARP members volunteered to collect evidence for

1869-612: Is available to those 50 and older; however, those under the age of 50 can also join. AARP licenses its brand to certain products, including Medicare insurance with UnitedHealthcare. The organization is overseen by a volunteer board of directors. According to its 2018 Consolidated Financial Statement, the largest sources of income were: AARP was founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus , a retired public school teacher and principal in California. Andrus had been an advocate for health insurance coverage for retired teachers. Volunteering with

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1958-703: Is buttressed by Charles Jarvis 's connections to Focus on the Family . Information from Public Citizen and from USA's IRA form 990. American Association of Retired Persons AARP , formerly the American Association of Retired Persons , is an interest group in the United States focusing on issues affecting those 50 years old and older. The organization, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. , said it had more than 38 million members as of 2018. The magazine and bulletin it sends to its members are

2047-608: Is called a "hypostyle hall", with full-bodied Doric columns modeled on the Parthenon, marking out a grid. Bosworth was seeking to coordinate the classical tradition with the requirements of a modern building. Columns were not merely the decorative elements they had become in the hands of other architects but created all the illusion of being real supports. Bosworth also designed the campus of MIT as well as Theodore N. Vail 's mansion in Morristown, New Jersey . In 1978, AT&T commissioned

2136-472: The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). As a self-described conservative alternative to the AARP , USA Next has often received criticism for its political orientation and associations; in particular, to its connections to conservative positions, organizations, and businesses. It also receives criticism for certain organizational issues. In February 2003, the rival organization AARP stated that "recently,

2225-481: The Bell System 's long history, AT&T was at times the world's largest telephone company, the world's largest cable television operator, and a regulated monopoly. At its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, it employed one million people and its revenue ranged between US$ 3 billion in 1950 ($ 41.3 billion in present-day terms ) and $ 12 billion in 1966 ($ 117 billion in present-day terms ). In 2005, AT&T

2314-545: The Ohio State University who were forced out of their jobs because of their age. This action resulted in a settlement which helped the employees regain their positions, receive back pay, and required the university to hold training sessions with its staff on preventing age bias. AARP has advocated for the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) since its passage in 1967, which protects workers at or over

2403-549: The United States Congress ' passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act , which created Medicare Part D , in 2003, and also influenced Congress by resisting changes to Social Security in 2005. President George W. Bush called the Medicare legislation “the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare.” In 2007, AARP launched

2492-547: The 1960s. Its focus areas have included Medicare, affordable health insurance, and lower prescription drug costs and its recent engagement is a reflection of this long-standing involvement. AARP testified before Congress in support of the Older Americans Act and the amendments to Social Security that created the Medicare Program, which President Johnson enacted into law in 1965. AARP's public stances influenced

2581-537: The American Social Security entitlement program and strengthening American institutions so they will be able to benefit current and future generations. An "opinion poll" on the USA Next web site asked the question, "Did you know that the AARP has taken over $ 1 billion in taxpayer money over the last 20 years?" The organization has also received criticism from conservatives and libertarians for signing on to

2670-540: The California Retired Teachers Association (CRTA), Andrus sought out former teachers who were struggling on their $ 40/month state pensions. Her goal was to get them out of poverty and access to affordable health insurance. In 1944, Andrus checked on a former Spanish teacher who was ill and found her living in a chicken coop. Like many other retirees at the time, her pension was not enough to afford adequate housing or healthcare. Before Medicare

2759-572: The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Operation Senior Sentinel targeting illegal telemarketers. In 1996, 78 million baby boomers began turning 50, contributing to AARP's growth. In 1999, the organization changed its name from American Association of Retired Persons to AARP, dropping the word “retirement.” At the time, a third of AARP's members were still in the workforce. AARP no longer requires that members be retired, and there are no longer any age restrictions even for full membership. Recognizing

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2848-543: The GOP [ Republican Party ] legislation." A May 2004 article from the center-Left The Washington Monthly elaborated as follows: In 2004, USANext was one of the groups supporting the Bush administration 's Social Security privatization plan. According to the New York Times , the organization had $ 28 million in annual revenues, and it aggressively seeks contributions from industry: "Health care companies, energy companies,

2937-499: The House of Representatives and is with the Senate. In 2017, the organization created an online jobs board to connect job seekers over 50 with employers. AARP also created an employer pledge program, where more than 1,000 employers—including Google and CVS—promised to adhere to a set of age-friendly hiring and employment practices. In 2018, AARP Foundation lawyers represented two employees of

3026-492: The NRTA Health Plan spread, and thousands of retired non-educators who also faced challenges finding health coverage contacted the NRTA about joining. In 1958, Andrus created the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) as a sister organization to NRTA. Through membership in AARP, the general population age 55 and older gained access to the insurance benefits previously limited to former teachers. In 1958, AARP began publishing its magazine called Modern Maturity to spread

3115-520: The Rockefeller mansion north of Tarrytown, New York , it was a modern steel structure clad top to bottom in a Greek-styled exterior, the three-story-high Ionic columns of Vermont granite forming eight registers over a Doric base. The lobby of the AT&;T Building was one of the most unusual ones of the era. Instead of a large double-high space, similar to the nearby Woolworth Building , Bosworth designed what

3204-484: The Social Security program through privatization or diverting Social Security payroll taxes to private accounts. AARP's research indicates that  nearly half (57 million) of American workers have no access to a retirement savings plan through their employers. Through its state offices, the organization began advocating individual states to enact work and save programs, which made it easier for businesses to create

3293-570: The Trump administration's goal of allowing Americans to import lower-cost drugs from other countries and in 2021, the organization backed a House Democratic bill that, among other things, would allow Medicare to use its bargaining power to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers. AARP backed legislation proposed by President Biden and passed by Congress in 2022 that would enable Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, set caps on out-of-pocket drug spending by those on Medicare and capped

3382-616: The U.S. Social Security Administration ordered one of them to halt what it determined to be misleading mailings." USANext was eventually fined $ 554,000 for two such mailings, violating a 1988 amendment to the Social Security Act in 1988 prohibiting the private use of the phrase "Social Security" and several related terms in any way that would convey a false impression of approval from the Social Security Administration. The constitutionality of this law (42 U.S.C. § 1140)

3471-595: The Virgin Islands. Through its affiliated organizations such as AARP Foundation, AARP helps seniors with legal assistance, tax preparation, job training  and personal finance. Members receive AARP the Magazine and the AARP Bulletin, the top-circulating consumer publications in the country, along with special offers and discounts related to travel, restaurants, prescriptions, and more. A full AARP membership

3560-422: The administration. White House conferences on aging have been held every decade since the first and are credited with making contributions to U.S. aging policy, including laying the groundwork for Medicare. At the first conference, AARP spotlighted a potential solution to the growing issue of older adults with mobility problems living independently. It constructed the House of Freedom in downtown Washington, D.C.,

3649-419: The age of 40 from bias in the workplace. Facing growing pension obligations and high annual health cost increases, American businesses in the 2000s began scaling back their retirement and health benefits to employees. While 35 percent of private-sector workers had a defined benefit pension in the 1990s, only 18 percent did in 2013. Beginning in 2004, AARP opposed attempts to undermine the guaranteed nature of

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3738-588: The building until it was sold in 2013. In 1969, AT&T began plans to construct an administration corporate complex in the suburbs. In early 1970, AT&T began purchases of land in the suburbs of New Jersey for this office complex and began construction in 1974. The award-winning architect, Vincent Kling , designed a Fordism style, luxurious "Pagoda" campus layout and the construction firms: New York–based Walter Kidde and Newark, New Jersey –based Frank Briscoe, managed this joint venture construction project with Vollers Construction of Branchburg, New Jersey , as

3827-545: The burden on older consumers. Founder Ethel Percy Andrus testified during the 1962 Senate hearings on pharmaceutical industry pricing practices. “Our concern is relief from suffering and improvement of health. We feel that 15 to 20 percent profit earned by several large manufacturers is detrimental to this concern,” Andrus told the committee in 1962. AARP regularly publishes Rx Price Watch Reports noting pricing trends in popular drugs for seniors. From 2018 to 2019, AARP helped pass more than 35 laws aimed at lowering drug prices at

3916-660: The care she needed and began searching for ways to improve the health and financial security of older adults. In 1947, Andrus formed the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) to secure affordable group health coverage. She met with 42 private insurance companies who deemed adults over 65 to be "uninsurable" and was rejected each time. The policy that Andrus had in mind was one that covered individuals aged 65 and older, with no exclusions for pre-existing health conditions. Leonard Davis, an insurance broker from New York, offered to work with Andrus to develop

4005-464: The changing circumstances of its membership, AARP began offering more work-related tools and resources and ramped up its advocacy against age discrimination in the workplace. Beginning in 2009, AARP backed the “Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act” (POWADA), which aims to restore fairness for workers aged 40 and over by treating age discrimination as seriously as other forms of workplace discrimination. As of 2020, POWADA has been passed by

4094-408: The company's breakup in 1984. Throughout most of the 20th century, AT&T held a semi-monopoly on phone service in the United States and Canada through a network of companies called the Bell System . At this time, the company was nicknamed Ma Bell . AT&T had a domestic and global presence in laying the infrastructure of undersea routes for telecommunications. In 1950, the U.S. Navy commissioned

4183-560: The corporate logo designed by Saul Bass in 1983 and originally used by AT&T Information Systems , was created because part of the United States v. AT&T settlement required AT&T to relinquish all claims to the use of Bell System trademarks. It has been nicknamed the " Death Star " in reference to the Death Star space station in Star Wars which the logo resembles. In 1999 it

4272-679: The country. In 1977, it enrolled its ten millionth member. By the end of the 1980s, membership nearly tripled to 33 million and AARP mailings were so large that the organization had its own zip code. It had tens of thousands of volunteers, the highest circulation magazine in the nation, and rising national awareness. In 1997, it topped Fortune's first annual list of the most powerful lobbying organizations. In 1984, AARP reduced its membership age from 55 to 50. It began sending “birthday” cards and membership invitations to Americans who were approaching their 50th birthday. During this phase of rapid growth for AARP, competing insurance providers entered

4361-486: The demand for wired services. It established station WEAF in New York as what was termed a toll station . AT&T could provide no programming, but anyone who wished to broadcast a message could pay a "toll" to AT&T and then air the message publicly. The original studio was the size of a telephone booth. The idea, however, did not take hold, because people would pay to broadcast messages only if they were sure that someone

4450-627: The existence of the nearly 140-year-old entity. The internal merger took effect on May 1, 2024. AT&T, prior to its merger with SBC Communications , had three core companies: AT&T Alascom sold service in Alaska. AT&T Communications was renamed AT&T Communications – East, Inc. and sold long-distance telephone service and operated as a CLEC outside of the borders of the Bell Operating Companies that AT&T owned. It has now been absorbed into AT&T Corp. and all but 4 of

4539-533: The federal government entered into an agreement known as the Kingsbury Commitment . In the Kingsbury Commitment, AT&T and the government reached an agreement that allowed AT&T to continue operating as a telephone monopoly, subject to certain conditions, including divesting its interest in Western Union. While AT&T periodically faced scrutiny from regulators, this state of affairs continued until

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4628-465: The final Medicare bill, the drug industry has bankrolled a front group to air ads throughout the country. The United Seniors Association (USA) is "a conservative, grassroots organization for the elderly just as likely to be flacking for corporate special interests as it is to be representing seniors." The drug lobby pays the group "as a front for its TV and radio 'issue' ad campaigns," which is also "used by several corporate energy front groups pushing for

4717-495: The following Monday, November 21 as " the new AT&T " and began trading under the "T" symbol on December 1. Present-day AT&T Inc. claims AT&T Corp.'s history as its own, but retains SBC's pre-2005 stock price history and corporate structure. As well, all SEC filings before 2005 are under SBC, not AT&T. From 1885 to 1910, AT&T was headquartered at 125 Milk Street in Boston. With its expansion it moved to New York City, to

4806-589: The food industry, just about everybody except for financial investment companies." The Times reported in February 2005 the group's recent hires: In March 2004, the United Seniors Association commissioned a push-poll about the potential rise in long-distance telephone costs as a result of a prior DC Circuit Court ruling. In a letter to Congress on March 10, 2004, Mary P. Mahoney, Vice President of Government Relations for USA, wrote: "We are concerned about

4895-505: The former complex, excluding the hotel/conference room building, from Pfizer for Verizon Wireless Headquarters and consolidation of employees from Manhattan as well as other nearby New Jersey building locations. In 2007, Pfizer placed the North Maple Inn for sale. At the time, it was a four-diamond, certified hotel and conference center under IACC ("International Association of Conference Centers") designation. In 2015, Verizon performed

4984-480: The former parent company's main business was now AT&T Communications Inc. , which focused on long-distance services, and with other non-RBOC activities. AT&T acquired NCR Corporation in 1991. AT&T announced in 1995 that it would split into three companies: a manufacturing/R&D company, a computer company, and a services company. NCR , Bell Labs and AT&T Technologies were to be spun off by 1997. In preparation for its spin-off, AT&T Technologies

5073-516: The innovations of products or technologies in cabling in transmission by undersea systems. In 1955, the first trans-Atlantic telephone undersea cable, TAT-1 , from North America to Europe was installed by AT&T. This installation allowed 48 telephone circuits to be used for long-distance calling. When partnering with other global Telecommunications companies, such as the French Cables de Lyon and German Felten & Guilleaume , Bell Labs provided

5162-673: The insurers and rental companies with research that demonstrated drivers over the age of 65 were among the safest. In 1979, the organization began offering a driver safety course for any licensed driver, taught by volunteers. In 2016, the AARP Driver Safety Program taught 360,000 older drivers in classrooms and another 130,000 through its online course. Some who take the training receive discounts on their insurance premiums. In 1984, AARP licensed its brand name to affordable auto insurance that members could purchase and could not be canceled solely because of age. In 1973, AARP created

5251-604: The investigation, and NRTA/AARP legislative director Ernest Gidding testified once. In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation creating the first White House Conference on Aging. He named Andrus to the National Advisory Committee for the first conference, held in 1961. More than 2,500 delegates met in Washington, D.C. over four days to address challenges facing older adults such as poverty, housing, and healthcare, and develop policy recommendations for

5340-437: The largest membership organizations in the United States. In 1963, Leonard Davis bought out Continental Casualty's AARP/NRTA insurance policies and formed Colonial Penn, his own company, which became the sole provider of insurance to AARP/NRTA. In 1968, AARP launched Tax-Aide, which matched low and moderate-income people with trained volunteers who provided free tax preparation and filing services. As AARP grew, it expanded

5429-512: The laying or repair of cabling under the subsidiary, Transoceanic Cable Ship Company. After the break-up, AT&T operated their ships under a subsidiary called AT&T Submarine Systems Inc, based in Morristown, New Jersey, until they sold six ships to Tyco International Ltd in 1997 for $ 850 million. AT&T continued to maintain their communication building facilities. Here is a list of the cable laying-ship fleet: Between 1951 and 2000, AT&T

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5518-609: The local level. In early 2017, AARP strongly opposed the  American Health Care Act of 2017 , saying that older Americans would be unfairly burdened with higher premiums and smaller tax credits. AT%26T Corporation AT&T Corporation , an abbreviation for its former name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company , was an American telecommunications company that provided voice, video, data, and Internet telecommunications and professional services to businesses, consumers, and government agencies. During

5607-594: The location peaked to 6,000 employees in its heyday before AT&T experienced competition and downsizing. In October 2001, the Basking Ridge property was 140 acre with 2.6 million square feet and was placed for sale. Basking Ridge employee occupancy, prior to the sale were approximately 3,200 employees. In April 2002, Pharmacia Corporation purchased the complex for $ 210 million for their corporate headquarters from existing Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey headquarters. A short time afterwards, in 2005, Verizon purchased

5696-492: The marketplace, selling plans tailored to retired Americans. With more competition, the quality of Colonial Penn's offerings and the nature of AARP's relationship with Colonial Penn came into question. In 1982, NRTA formally merged with AARP. In 1988, it formed a career planning workshop for older Americans who were unemployed and introduced a series of AARP mutual funds in 1997. By the mid-1990s, telemarketing fraud had become pervasive and cost consumers more than $ 40 billion

5785-483: The nation's first universal design home easily accessible by older adults and people with disabilities. It was built by AARP and the Douglas Fir Plywood Association and signaled the beginning of AARP's work to help older Americans remain independent in their own homes and neighborhoods for as long as they wanted. By 1962, the combined membership of AARP and NRTA had grown to 400,000, making it one of

5874-410: The original 22 subsidiaries that formed AT&T Communications continue to exist. AT&T Laboratories has been integrated into AT&T Labs , formerly named SBC Laboratories . AT&T was also known as "Ma Bell" and affectionately called "Mother" by phone phreaks . During some strikes by its employees, picketers would wear T-shirts reading, "Ma Bell is a real mother." Before the break-up, there

5963-412: The patent rights of Alexander Graham Bell after he invented the telephone system. Originally a verbal agreement, it was formalized in writing in 1875 as Bell Telephone Company . In 1880 the management of American Bell created what would become AT&T Long Lines . The project was the first of its kind to create a nationwide long-distance network with a commercially viable cost-structure. The project

6052-502: The price for insulin at $ 35. In 2016, the organization created Staying Sharp, a program which allowed people to evaluate their brain health through a scientifically based assessment and receive tips for slowing cognitive decline. In 2018, AARP invested $ 60 million in the Dementia Discovery Fund, which supports research into diagnosis, treatments, and cures for dementia. AARP has been active in healthcare policy debates since

6141-577: The range of benefits offered to its members. It established a travel service that took members on modestly priced domestic and international trips, created a retired senior volunteer program, and offered a range of discounts. Increasingly, AARP's members were asking the organization to take on age discrimination in the marketplace. Hundreds of members wrote to AARP in the early years, explaining that auto insurers and rental companies were charging punishing rates for older drivers, classifying them as high risk and reckless just because of their age. AARP challenged

6230-487: The recent development in the DC Circuit Court that over turned what Congress has done in regard to local telephone competition. We know you must be as concerned about this as we are... I have enclosed an op-ed by [USA President] Charlie Jarvis , an op-ed by Tech Central Station 's James Glassman, as well as a script of a telephone survey we will be conducting in your district." This action appears to be coordinated with

6319-649: The specification and inspection of non Bell System cable for networks such as the TAT-2 . By the continuous undersea network installations, AT&T was a globally technology leader with the 1970 installed TAT-5 and the 1975 installed TAT-6 , achieving 720 channels and then 4000 channels for transmitting voice or data. Prior to 1963, AT&T had to charter oceanic ships, such as the CS Monarch (1945) for installations. AT&T purchased CS Long Lines in 1961 and operated it with several cable laying ships that would provide, either

6408-522: The subcontractor. The 295 North Maple Avenue and Interstate 287 location of Basking Ridge in Bernards Township , New Jersey was completed in 1975 for the AT&T General Department offices. Employees began moving, in November 1975, to the seven inter-connected building complex using 28 acre of the property. The property had a 15-acre underground parking garage with spaces for 3,900 vehicles, and included

6497-435: The superiority of one phone system and AT&T adopted the slogan "One Policy, One System, Universal Service." This would be the company's philosophy for the next 70 years. Under Vail, AT&T began buying up many of the smaller telephone companies including Western Union telegraph . These actions brought unwanted attention from antitrust regulators. Anxious to avoid action from government antitrust suits, AT&T and

6586-519: The two largest-circulation publications in the United States . AARP was formed in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus , a retired educator from California , and Leonard Davis, who later founded Colonial Penn 's insurance companies. It is an influential lobbying group in the United States. AARP sells paid memberships, and markets insurance and other services to its members. AARP is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit that advocates for older Americans on

6675-515: The word about the association, keep members informed of its activities, and publicize issues affecting older adults. National concern about pharmaceutical industry practices at this time prompted U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn), who chaired the Senate Judiciary Antitrust and Monopoly Subcommittee, to lead a congressional investigation into prescription drug prices, which lasted from 1959 to 1962. Andrus testified four times during

6764-571: The year. The ACA, which passed a year later, was opposed by Republicans and AARP's support prompted thousands of members to leave the organization. In 2019, with the price of prescription drugs far outpacing inflation, AARP began lobbying for legislative and industry changes that would lower the price of prescription medications. AARP supported a bipartisan bill by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) that set caps on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries and increased pressure on drug companies to lower prices. That year, AARP also supported

6853-607: The “Divided We Fail” campaign with the Business Roundtable, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Service Employees International Union. The campaign urged presidential candidates in both major parties to commit to making health insurance coverage more affordable and to strengthen Social Security. As early as 1959, AARP began advocating for lower prescription drug costs to ease

6942-405: Was acquired by " Baby Bell " and former subsidiary SBC Communications for more than $ 16 billion ($ 25 billion in present-day terms ). SBC then changed its name to AT&T Inc. , with AT&T Corporation continuing to exist as a long distance subsidiary until its dissolution on May 1, 2024. AT&T started with Bell Patent Association , a legal entity established in 1874 to protect

7031-464: Was because Massachusetts corporate laws were very restrictive, and limited capitalization to ten million dollars, forestalling American Bell's further growth. With this assets transfer at the very end of the 19th century, AT&T became the parent of both American Bell and the Bell System . AT&T was involved mainly in the telephone business and, although it was a partner with RCA , was reluctant to see radio grow because such growth might diminish

7120-399: Was enacted in 1965, no national program existed in the United States to provide health insurance to people aged 65 and older. At the same time, many states enforced mandatory retirement, forcing people to leave their jobs and forfeit health coverage. The poverty rate for Americans 65 and older was 35 percent higher than any other age group. Shocked by what she saw, Andrus helped the teacher get

7209-542: Was formally incorporated in New York as a separate company named American Telephone and Telegraph Company on March 3, 1885. Originating in New York City, its long-distance telephone network reached Chicago, Illinois , in 1892, with its multitudes of local exchanges continuing to stretch further and further yearly, eventually creating a continent-wide telephone system. On December 30, 1899, the assets of American Bell were transferred into its subsidiary American Telephone and Telegraph Company (formerly AT&T Long Lines ); this

7298-503: Was greater consumer recognition of the "Bell System" name, in comparison to the name AT&T. This prompted the company to launch an advertising campaign after the break-up to increase its name recognition. Spinoffs like the Regional Bell Operating Companies or RBOC s were often called "Baby Bells". Ironically, "Ma Bell" was acquired by one of its "Baby Bells", SBC Communications , in 2005. The AT&T Globe Symbol,

7387-453: Was listed 73 times in cable laying operations for specific routes deployed. The Cable Ship Long Lines had 23 cable runs from 1963 to 1992, with the first deep-sea trial of optical fiber cable in 1982 leading to the consortium of countries and locations for the TAT-8 fiber cable implementation of 1988. The United States Justice Department opened the case United States v. AT&T in 1974. This

7476-529: Was listening. As a result, WEAF began broadcasting entertainment material, drawing amateur talent found among its employees. Opposition to AT&T's expansion into radio and an agreement with the National Broadcasting Company to lease long-distance lines for their broadcasts resulted in the sale of the station and its developing network of affiliates to NBC. On April 30, 1907, Theodore Newton Vail became President of AT&T. Vail believed in

7565-513: Was one of the divisions responsible for the cable-laying and maintaining of Long Lines' undersea cables. Western Electric was the manufacturing company responsible for production and supply of undersea coaxial equipment and later, fiber cables. Equipment such as repeaters was manufactured in Clark, New Jersey and coaxial cable was manufactured in Baltimore, Maryland . Also, Bell Labs was responsible for

7654-461: Was passed in November 2004 by Ohio voters. In March 2005, the couple Richard and Steven Hansen-Raymen pictured in the advertisement filed a US$ 25 million lawsuit against USA Next, alleging that group used the couple's image without their permission. A restraining order preventing USA Next from running the ad was granted. While the organization, however, has no age requirement for membership it does openly claim an agenda for reforming or retrenching of

7743-400: Was prompted by suspicion that AT&T was using monopoly profits from its Western Electric subsidiary to subsidize the cost of its network, a violation of antitrust law. A settlement to this case was finalized in 1982, leading to the division of the company on January 1, 1984, into seven Regional Bell Operating Companies , commonly known as Baby Bells. These companies were: Post-breakup,

7832-541: Was renamed Lucent Technologies . Lucent was completely spun off from AT&T in 1996. On January 31, 2005, the " Baby Bell " company SBC Communications announced its plans to acquire " Ma Bell " AT&T Corp. for $ 16 billion. SBC announced in October 2005 that it would shed the "SBC" brand and take the more recognizable AT&T brand, along with the old AT&T's "T" NYSE ticker symbol. Merger approval concluded on November 18, 2005; SBC Communications began rebranding

7921-686: Was upheld in United Seniors Association, Inc. v. Social Security Administration , ___ F.3d ___ (4th Cir. 2005) (text at Findlaw). On May 30, 2006, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. It also reports that it began backing a plan "to allow more production of domestic energy in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" after receiving more than $ 181,000 from Anchorage-based Arctic Power . The liberal think-tank Center for American Progress stated in its report of November 14, 2003: :COMPANIES HIRE MERCENARY "GRASSROOTS" GROUP: To influence

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