Kamala Harris’s Rural Broadband Flop
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HOME PHONES BACK IN THE DAY
A Little Bit of History:
Does anyone remember or know what a PARTY LINE was? You CITY kids back then wouldn't have known ... you pick up the phone and the neighbor was on the phone. You couldn't recieve or make a call until they hung up. The kicker was YOU COULD STAY QUIET and listen in ... IMAGINE THAT TODAY!!!
What Did PARTY LINE mean in Rural America?
In rural America, a "party line" referred to a shared telephone line used by multiple households, particularly in the early to mid-20th century before private lines became common. This system allowed several families to share the same phone line to save costs in areas where extending individual lines was expensive or impractical.
Key Features of Party Lines:
1. Shared Usage: All households connected to the party line could make and receive calls on the same line.
2. Distinctive Rings: Each household had a specific ring pattern (e.g., two short rings, one long ring) to indicate an incoming call for them.
3. Lack of Privacy: Conversations could often be overheard, as others on the line could pick up their phones and listen.
4. Etiquette Required: Users had to coordinate usage, as the line could only handle one call at a time. People were expected to hang up if they picked up while someone else was on a call.
5. Community Connection: While it posed privacy concerns, the party line also fostered a sense of community as people stayed informed about neighbors’ lives, sometimes intentionally (gossip) or unintentionally.
As telephone technology advanced, party lines were gradually replaced with private lines, especially by the 1970s and 1980s.
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