On 1/2/2013 1:34 PM, ned+ietf(_at_)mauve(_dot_)mrochek(_dot_)com 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