Acoustic couplers (was: Re: WCIT outcome?)

[[e-mail]]

> On 1/2/2013 1:34 PM, [e-mail] wrote:
> >> Now, your point about rewiring the jack may in fact be the reason for
> >> _post-Carterphone_ acoustic couplers, but it was indeed at one time illegal
> >> to connect directly (other than AT+T/WE supplied equipment).
> >
> > I'm skeptical about this last part. Prior to the advent of RJ-11 Bell System
> > line cords used a large polarized four pin jack. After Carterphone all sorts of
> > stuff started to appear to accomodate these, including extension cords,
> > plug-jack passthroughs, and even "cube taps".

> Acoustic couplers date back farther than the 4-pin plugs.

Of course. However, we're talking about post-Carterphone here. Carterphone was
1968, and I'm sure four pin plugs were in use by then.

Also keep in mind that AT&T fought the Carterphone decision for many years.
They got some state regulators to issue their own restrictions, but the FCC
nixed them all. Then they said a special protection device had to be used. The
FCC shot that down too. They also tried fees, but for that to work people had
to tell AT&T to charge them, which of course didn't happen.

> ...

> > At one point there was something that said one phone in each home had to be
> > directly wired without a plug. I don't know if this was a regulation, a phone
> > company rule, or just a suggestion, but it also fell by the wayside after
> > Carterphone.

> It was usually enforced rigorously.  A given field tech might choose to
> overlook a local mod, but they were authorized to remove such things.

> So in my apartment, I installed a shutoff switch to the line, to be able
> to sleep through attempts by my boss to call me in to work an additional
> shift as a computer operator, at UCLA, around 1970 -- if I answered, I
> was required to come in.  Remember there was no caller ID in those days.

> The tech who needed to work on my phone service was very clear that he
> was supposed to remove it.  After checking that I had handled the wiring
> acceptably, he looked at me and said "so if I remove this, you'll
> probably just reinstall it, right?"  He then left it in place.

A line mod was probably against the rules irrespective of Carterphone in those
days. But had you bought your own phone with a ringer switch and hooked that
up, that absolutely would have been covered by Carterphone. Of course you would
then have had to convince AT&T of that - see above.

				Ned