Final answer:
AT&T's efforts to block competitors in the telephone market in 1978 failed due to government regulations and public outcry against monopolies. The government's commitment to competition and the public's demand for fair and affordable services were instrumental in preventing AT&T's lobbying efforts from succeeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
AT&T's efforts to block entry of competitors into the telephone market in 1978 failed primarily due to government regulations. During that time, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had implemented regulations promoting competition and preventing monopolies in the telecommunications industry. The government's objective was to ensure that there were multiple service providers and to foster innovation and fair pricing for consumers. Furthermore, there was a public outcry against monopolies.
The public recognized the negative consequences of a single provider controlling the market, such as lack of choice, higher prices, and limited innovation. This pressure from the public influenced lawmakers' decisions and made it difficult for AT&T to gain support for their efforts to block competitors. While AT&T had significant financial resources, it was not enough to overcome the government regulations and public sentiment. The government's commitment to competition and the public's demand for fair and affordable services were instrumental in preventing AT&T's lobbying efforts from succeeding.