https://mymodernmet.com/randtel-free-payphones-vermont/
"According to Pew Research Center, 98% of Americans own a mobile phone. Despite
how common they are, cell service can be spotty—or even nonexistent—in many
areas, such as long stretches of rural Vermont. Patrick Schlott, an electrical
engineer, realized this after moving to the area. Hoping to help the community,
he used his skills to install free public telephones in strategic locations.
“Think payphones without the ‘pay’ part,” writes Schlott.
The effort, which was launched in 2023, is known as the Randolph Public
Telephone Operating Company (RandTel, for short), named after a small town in
Vermont. It’s described as “an unofficial telephone cooperative in Central
Vermont” and is modeled after two similar projects—Futel in Oregon, and PhilTel
in Philadelphia.
“Payphones aren’t common anymore, as it’s assumed most folks own cell phones,”
writes Schlott on RandTel’s website. “Well, not everyone does, sometimes they
don’t work out on dirt roads, sometimes you forget your charger, and sometimes
you just really need to make a phone call. We aim to provide a valuable public
service to the community while teaching people about the US telephone system
that has over a century of history behind it.”
Schlott buys, cleans, and fixes old pay phones in his basement workshop before
installing them. Most importantly, these phones work by using an internet
connection. “Basically, there’s a small piece of equipment that converts an
internet telephone line to an analog line that these phones can operate off
of,” Schlott told
AP.
There are currently three RandTel phones installed in this area of Vermont: the
North Tunbridge General Store in Tunbridge, the Latham Library in Thetford
Center, and the information booth on road VT-66 in Randolph. The latter is
solar powered for extra sustainability and reliability. While these phones work
like any other—you just have to lift the receiver and wait for the dial
tone—Schlott also serves as an operator, and can be reached when pressing 0 if
anyone needs help.
“There’s not a person that I’ve discussed this project with that thinks it’s
foolish,” Andrea Easton of the White River Valley Chamber of Commerce, which
hosts the Randolph phone, told
NBC5. “This is going to be one of those things
that bring people some joy and some comfort and a real need when they need a
phone.”"
Via Muse, who wrote "This article is adorable! Patrick Schlott is a hero!"
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
