WAVY Archive: 1982 C&P Telephone Operators

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

He properly pronounced it "No f*ck"

[@roachtoasties]

The old TSPS consoles. I was a phone operator back in the day, but for only 2 1/2 years (I eventually went on to an I.T. career elsewhere). I remember before there had to be an answer for a third-number bill, recognizing telling numbers customers would bill to that would never be answered. One was the Los Angeles County Probation Department. I've had customers bill to that on the weekend, when they're closed. I guess they want to be back on probation. Now, it's basically a flat rate to make calls or chatting with a smartphone app. Third number billing is basically unheard of. I don't think there are those telephone calling cards anymore. Their usefulness has faded away. If it's still possible, one would be out-of-their mind to make a person-to-person call to a cellphone, or to any phone. I can't even remember the last time I called an operator. I'm unsure if there are any telephone company operators left, and if there are, there aren't many.

[@roachtoasties]

From what I remember, the cards were 14 digits. Initially there was no online database to check if the numbers were invalid, stolen, bad, etc. It' was basically some mathematics to check if the number was in the correct sequence. Something like the Lung algorithm. Things eventually got more advanced, with a 10 digit number (usually a phone number) and a four digit PIN after that, that was validated immediately when entered on the TSPS console. If it was invalid, revoked, reported stolen, etc., the number would not be accepted. Things got more automated where the customer could enter the number themselves on a touchtone phone (0+ dialing), along with a computer collecting coins at pay phones. Call traffic went down at operator offices. Over the years, offices closed. Now, if there are still operators, it's a very small number.

[@roachtoasties]

@@richardpasquin That I do remember. There was a button "make busy" that wouldn't allow any new calls to come to the console. Once all calls were done with or transferred, just unplug the headphone. When we plugged in the headphone, we then entered our operator number. Pay phones would light red buttons on top. Non-pay phones lighted up white buttons. If it was a special phone, like in a jail or hotel room, there would be a number in the display indicating the type of phone.

[@roachtoasties]

@@richardpasquin No, it was only TSPS when I was there.

[@thearkedcrown]

@@roachtoasties The calling cards can actually be pretty good if you are traveling outside of your home country. I can't believe third party billing was ever a thing. It's crazy how many little things existed back then that we would never allow today.

[@Richardpasquinucci]

how did those TSPS cnsoles verify calling cards?

[@Richardpasquinucci]

why is the video quality so bad

[@lisalasoya2898]

Technology, is fast moving by way of telephones & PBX & the one thing CMP operators hate is the one billed haha to a 3rd party, the operator haves to phone that party's phone number & connect to the caller. What makes a big hub is the secretase of communications Act, where people want their privacy respected because their reporters, actors, sportspeople, it respects their privacy.