This day in 1951 marked the start of the North American Numbering Plan which we now refer to as ‘Area Codes’.
From the Bell System’s beginnings in 1876 and throughout the first part of the 20th century, telephone networks grew from essentially local or regional telephone systems. These systems expanded by growing their subscriber bases, as well as enlarging their service areas by implementing additional local exchanges that were interconnected with tie trunks. It was the responsibility of each local administration to devise telephone numbering plans that accommodated the local requirements and growth. As a result, the North American telephone service industry developed into an unorganized set of many differing local numbering systems. The diversity impeded the efficient operation and interconnection of exchanges into a nationwide system for long-distance telephone communication.
In October 1947, AT&T published the first nationwide numbering plan in coordination with the independent telephone operators. The plan divided most of North America into eighty-six numbering plan areas (NPAs). Each NPA was assigned a unique three-digit code, or simply area code. The goal of automatic service required additional technical advances in the latest generation of toll-switching systems, completed by the early 1950s, and installation of new toll-switching systems in most numbering plan areas. The first customer-dialed direct call using an area code was made on November 10, 1951, from Englewood, New Jersey, to Alameda, California. Direct distance dialing (DDD) was introduced subsequently across the country.
The North American Numbering Plan now covers twenty-five regions in twenty countries, primarily in North America and the Caribbean. This group is historically known as World Numbering Zone 1 and has the country code 1. Some North American countries, most notably Mexico, do not participate in the NANP.
Face of a 1939 rotary telephone dial with the telephone number LA-2697. The dial plate shows the mapping of the alphabet to digits. The telephone number includes the first two letters of Lakewood, New Jersey, as the central office prefix, later converted to LA6 in the new numbering plan.
This is one of the wurst refrigerators…
Quiz…
FABRIC ART!!!!!
But first, a nice crocheted
BAGEL SMORG lunch!
Look how the quilt stitching incorporates the symbols of Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, etc. Now THAT’S attention to detail!
AND FOR ALL YOU QUILTERS OUT THERE, THIS IS FOR YOU!!!!!!!
Thanks, Debra!!!
Today is the birthday, in 1973, of British singer Jacqui Abbott, with The Beautiful South. Amongst their most successful hits during her stint with the group from 1994 to 2000, following the departure of Briana Corrigan were: ‘Rotterdam’, ‘Perfect 10’, ‘Don’t Marry Her’ and ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1s8vfihMbA
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