Editing GTE (section)

===1980s===
In December 1983 Vanderslice stepped down as the company's president and chief operating officer.
[[File:GTE manhole cover - Hillsboro, Oregon.JPG|thumb|A manhole cover featuring the company logo in [[Hillsboro, Oregon]]]]

In April 1988, after the retirement of Theodore F. Brophy, James L. "Rocky" Johnson was promoted from his position as president and chief operating officer to CEO of GTE; he was appointed chairman in 1991.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ramirez|first=Anthony|date=December 13, 1991|title=Business People; President of GTE Is Named Chairman |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/13/business/business-people-president-of-gte-is-named-chairman.html|access-date=November 29, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Under Johnson's leadership, GTE divested its 50% ownership of [[Sprint Corporation|US Sprint]], the nation's third largest long-distance company. He also orchestrated the sale of Sylvania and the merger with Contel, creating the 2nd largest telephone company in the United States. 
In 1989, GTE reorganized into six operating groups, focusing on its core businesses of telephone operations, information services, and publishing of telephone directories. With previous job cuts and announced future job cuts, Johnson was able to return GTE to profitability. 
Other new services provided under his leadership were GTE Mobilenet cellular telephone operations, [[Airfone]] air-to-ground telephone services, and the first voice, video, and data services community in Cerritos, California to test home banking, at-home shopping, home security, and pay-per-view television in 16,000 homes and 2,000 businesses.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-20-fi-500-story.html | title=GTE Put on a Diet : New Chief Pushes Once-Plodding Firm Onto the Fast Track | date=20 August 1988 | accessdate=21 August 2023 | author=Richter, Paul | website=www.latimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/09/GTE-reorganizes-into-six-operating-groups/6066600325200/ | title=GTE reorganizes into six operating groups | publisher=UPI | date=9 January 1080 | accessdate=21 August 2023 | website=www.upi.com}}</ref>