TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Old Party-Line Arrangements

Re: Old Party-Line Arrangements

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
7 Feb 2005 09:48:56 -0800

Paul Coxwell wrote:

> Can anybody elaborate and explain in more detail the arrangements
> which were commonly used, both in the Bell System and in the larger
> independents?

It is important to note that arrangements varied greatly from place to
place depending on the date, local conditions and the telephone
company that first installed the network.

Party lines were common even in high density cities for many years of
telephone service; they saved about 35% of the phone cost which
enabled people of modest means to afford a telephone. In the 1950s,
party lines were mandatory in some places until the phone company
could catch up with heavy demand for new service.

Party lines didn't only share the cost of running a line to the
subscriber, but also central office costs as well since it reduced
traffic peaks. Central offices had to be expanded before mandatory
party service could end.

Indeed, a major motion picture comedy was made about two people
fighting over use of a party line they were forced to get.

In some US states party line service is no longer offered at all. In
other states it is too existing customers only. I don't know if any
state allows new customers to get such service. The savings today are
only about 5%.

As mentioned, technical arrangements varies. In cities, it was
2-party service, Bell using arrangements of tip and ring and ground
(someone else can explain better) so only the desired party was rung.
In later years, each subscriber had their own number and it was
transparent to the caller. The independents often used frequency
ringing.

For very rural service, more than 4 parties would share a line and
ringing cadences were required.

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