at separate long distance offices where equipment especially designed 

 for the handling of long distance calls is provided. In addition to the 

 switchboard positions at which the operators work who handle the long 

 distance calls, there are certain auxiliary positions where operators 

 supply information to other operators with regard to routes, rates and 

 charges. Whether the toll call is handled at the local ofhce or at the 

 long distance office the operator who handles the call and deals with 

 the customers must have access to the toll lines and means of com- 

 munication with the auxiliary operators. Under any toll operating 

 method the operator who handles the call must make a record from 

 which the customer is billed. This is done on a small ticket which also 

 serves other supervisory purposes. There must be timing devices by 

 which the operator may time the length of conversation and facilities 

 for sending the ticket to file or to other operators if additional or special 

 work is to be done in connection with it. 



A-Board Toll Operating Method 



On the toll calls handled at local A boards, the subscriber reaches 

 his local operator (by dialing the code "0" in dial areas) and gives his 

 call to her. If she does not know the route to the called place from 

 memory, she obtains it either from a bulletin at her position or by 

 inquiry of the route operator. She reaches the called place by what- 

 ever trunking method is in use over the route in question. Most such 

 calls today are completed by the straightforward or dialing methods 

 over direct trunks. If direct circuits to the called place are not pro- 

 vided and the straightforward method is used, the operator selects 

 a trunk to an intermediate or tandem office and upon receipt of proper 

 signal passes the proper order to the tandem or intermediate operator 

 who connects the trunk on which the order was received to a trunk to 

 the called office. Upon receipt of the order at the called office, the 

 terminating operator makes connection to the called line. If the 

 dialing method is involved, the originating operator dials the called 

 number over tandem trunks to the called place. When the called 

 telephone answers, the operator enters the connect time on the ticket. 

 When both parties hang up the receivers this action operates signals 

 before the operator which indicate to her that the customers have 

 finished talking. W^hen these signals appear, the operator enters the 

 disconnect time on the ticket above the time previously shown and 

 the duration of the connection then may be obtained simply by sub- 

 tracting the connect time from the disconnect time. If the calling 

 party requests the charge for the call, the operator makes this sub- 

 traction, obtains the rate to the called place either from her bulletin or 

 from the rate operator, computes the charge and advises the customer. 



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