Long Lines and the operating companies also provide extensive private
line services—that is, service for customers who have a large enough
volume of communications between two or more points to need facilities
for their exclusive use, tailored to their individual requirements. The
private line services are provided by means of both wire and radio, for
a specified period of time and usually on a recurring basis. Many
American industries, the press and governmental agencies use these
services, which include telephone, teletypewriter, teletypesetter, radio
and television network transmission, facsimile and telephotograph.
_Teletypewriter_ service transmits typewritten messages from one point
to another, whether the sending and receiving machines are in the same
building or across the continent. _Teletypesetter_ service, by means of
electrical impulses sent over Bell System circuits, makes it possible to
set type for newspaper or other publication use speedily and from a
distance. _Facsimile_ service reproduces documents, drawings and maps at
the distant end and _telephotograph_ service does the same for pictures.
“General Staff” services benefit all
Serving the local communities in their territories is the responsibility
of the operating companies. There are, however, general problems shared
by all the companies. In order to handle these problems efficiently and
at reasonable cost, the operating companies contract with the AT&T
Company for those things that a centralized organization can do better
and more economically.
This contractual relationship is an outgrowth of the original licensing
arrangement, in which the first telephone companies obtained instruments
for the use of their subscribers. It was founded on the necessities of
the business. It exists today for the same reason.
To meet this responsibility, AT&T is organized to serve the operating
companies in matters of engineering and operation, finance, accounting
and law, and to assist them in other ways that may help them in
conducting their business.
Through AT&T, patent rights covering the results of Bell System research
in communications are made available to the operating companies. It is
the System’s policy also to make licenses under such patents available
to others outside the System on reasonable terms and on a non-exclusive
basis.
[Illustration: _Placed in service by Long Lines, this teletypewriter
system is the “nerve center” of a large business having main offices
located in many states._]
Among the many AT&T staff services to the telephone companies are those
described as “operation and engineering.” These include the entire range
of construction, operation, maintenance, methods and practices. The AT&T
general staff constantly studies new ideas for improved equipment and
practices that may originate anywhere in the System. Promising ideas are
developed and tested, usually in collaboration with the Bell Telephone
Laboratories. Improvements that result are spread over the whole Bell
System.
Besides operation and engineering services, other AT&T groups help the
telephone companies devise better business and office routines. Still
other groups advise the companies on the most efficient methods in
accounting, statistical analyses, public relations and advertising
activities, and in all the many other phases of the telephone business.