1960 - - AT&T Long Lines makes filing with FCC to result in a net decrease in interstate telephone revenues of $3 million annually. A special feature of this filing was a new system for measuring distances to determine rates. The new method - called VH - is based on the use of vertical and horizontal coordinates, permitting a more accurate calculation of distances. February 1st sees the formation of a new division of the Pacific Bell Company to be known as Pacific Telephone Northwest and to include Oregon, Washington and the northern part of Idaho. On August 3rd, Bell Laboratories scientists carried on a coast-to-coast telephone conversation by "bouncing" their voices off the moon. AT&T Long Lines files, on October 21st, an application with the FCC seeking approval of a space communications experiment using "active" satellites. November 1st sees the first market trial of Touch Tone calling undertaken in Findlay, Ohio. On November 17th, customer trials begin of the world's first electronic Telephone Central Office in Morris, Illinois.

1961 - - Bell System (January 16th) proposed a new service called TELPAK which would create "electronic highways" between specific points, over which many types of communications could be transmitted. On January 18th, the FCC authorizes AT&T to operate experimental radio stations for basic earth-satellite communications study ("Project Telstar"). On September 24th, the specially designed cable-laying and repair ship, C.S. Long Lines, is launched at Hamburg, Germany.

1962 - - In March, the FCC approved "Bellboy" radio paging system on a developmental basis for use at the Century 21 World's Fair in Seattle. This marked the first commercial application of the paging system. On July 10th, the world's first international communications satellite - Telstar - rocketed into space. First transmission came during Telstar's sixth orbit of the earth. On July 25th, the Bell System's "Skyphone" air-to-ground public telephone service opened for commercial airline use for the first time when TWA introduces the service on an experimental basis. On August 31, the Bell System's Teletypewriter Exchange Service cut from manual to dial operation on a nationwide basis. President Kennedy on September 1st, signs a bill authorizing the creation of a private corporation to develop and international communications system using satellites such as Telstar.

1963 - - U.S. Telephones total 80,969,000; world's total reaches 159,200,000. Telstar II is placed in orbit on May 7th in order to learn how to overcome the effects of radiation which permanently disabled Telstar on February 21st. On August 1st, NASA announces that the new Syncom II communications satellite had been used successfully to transmit voice live between the U.S. and Africa. On August 2nd, the Bell System announces the completion of field trials for a telephone that has the dial in the handle between the ear and mouth pieces. The "Trimline" telephone was tested near Detroit. November sees the first commercial all-electronic switching system (ESS#101) placed into service at Cocoa Beach, Florida at the Brown Engineering Company. November also marks the introduction of Touch Tone service featuring push button telephones in Carnegie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Microwave Communications, Inc. (MCI) files for Chicago-St.Louis route.

1964 - - In January, an old building in New Haven, Connecticut which in 1878 housed the nation's first telephone exchange, is designated a national historic landmark by the Department of the Interior. On February 13th, AT&T and RCA submit a joint proposal to the Communications Satellite Corporation for the design of an international commercial communications satellite system. March 2nd sees the General Electric Company's "switched service" private line network linking 100,000 telephones throughout the country placed in service. On April 20, the first transcontinental Picturephone call is made between Bell System exhibit at the World's Fair and Disneyland, California. July 6th marks the operation of the Federal Telecommunications System (FTS), the world's largest private line network.

1965 - - The number of independent telephone companies dropped to 2,535 from the 2,675 in existence at the start of 1964. March 1st sees the New York State law authorizing electronic eavesdropping declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Brooklyn. The first commercial communications satellite, Early Bird, is launched from Cape Kennedy on April 6th. April 23 sees the launch of the first Soviet communications satellite, Molniya 1, which carries our transmissions of television programs. On May 30 the first commercial electronic central office - Succasunna, N.J. - is brought into service. Initially, only 200 of the 4,300 subscribers take advantage of the memory services such as third party conferencing, speed dialing and transfer . Inward WATS service becomes available on a trial basis in the State of Alabama on June 14th. Michigan Bell becomes the first company to sell the Trimline telephone. October sees the Common Carrier Bureau of the FCC issuing a report recommended creation of an integrated record message service under Western Union and the sale of TWX to Western Union. Other recommendations include investigation of Bell System interstate and international rates. The FCC issues a Memorandum Opinion and Order instituting the investigation of the above rates.

1966 - - Nearly three fourths of all telephones in the U.S. and Canada now have ANC numbers. The changeover to seven-digit phone listings began in 1960. February 28th marks a new FCC regulation aimed at protecting the right to privacy by prohibiting eavesdropping of private conversations by the direct or indirect use of radio-controlled devices. In April, Illinois Bell introduces a new residential telephone set that provides for two lines for making calls and a hold button for switching back and forth between calls. The first air conditioned telephone booths in the Bell System are installed in Grand Central Station. On June 15th, AT&T Long Lines demonstrates direct worldwide telephone dialing (10 digits) schedule for implementation in 1970. In August, Southern New England Telephone begins testing coin telephones which permit emergency calling (operator) without a coin.

1967 - - April 28 marks the announcement by Bell Laboratories of the development of a new "light knife" which allows surgeons to use the focused beam of a laser as they would a scalpel. On June 30th, Bell Laboratories revels a "lineless" extension telephone, a battery operated portable unit that performs the major functions of a regular telephone set. On July 5th, the FCC announces its interim decision and order in Phase 1-A of the interstate rate case. The decision calls for Bell System interstate rate of return in the range of 7 to 7.5 percent and a reduction in interstate revenues of $120 million annually. In September, the FCC restored $544 million in plant under construction to the interstate rate base, deferred until May 1, 1968 a $20 million portion of its ordered rare reduction of $120 million and remanded its decision on separations for further consideration. On December 20, Southern Bell forms South Central Bell Telephone Company to operate in five of its nine states.

1968 - - In January the Call-A-Matic telephone was patented by Bell Laboratories. The Call-A-Matic was the first Bell System repetory dialer. Ben S. Gilmer, president of AT&T, announces on January 12th, the adoption by the Bell System of "911" as a nationwide emergency telephone number. On March 1, Huntington, Indiana becomes the first U.S. city to receive the universal emergency telephone number "911". March also sees the Bell Telephone Company of Canada change its name to Bell Canada, Inc. On April 17th, AT&T unveiled an experimental model of new telephone at its annual meeting in Boston. Smaller, lighter and largely electronic. - - On June 26th a landmark decision in telecom history as the Carterphone Decision is rendered by the FCC. Under this decision, the FCC struck down existing interstate telephone tariffs prohibiting attachment of connection to the public telephone system of any equipment or device that was not supplied by the telephone companies (Bell System). The suit, which began October 28, 1966 centered on the desire of Carter Electronics of Dallas to interconnect private mobile radio systems with the nationwide exchange and message toll telephone network. The Carterphone Decision created the interconnect industry and allowed manufacturers other than Western Electric to sell their telephone devices to business nationwide. The telephone companies still managed a minor victory by convincing the FCC that Bell System manufactured "interface devices" had to be placed between any non-telephone company equipment and the public telephone system. These interface devices were struck down in 1978 when the FCC determined that any equipment manufactured to FCC regulations could connect to the public network via industry standard network termination devices (RJ11C, RJ21X, etc.) In the mid-1980's the former Bell System companies were successfully sued for the fees paid by customers for these interface devices (which were determined to be unnecessary) during the ten year period from 1968 to 1978.

1969 - - New Bell System tariffs enabling the interconnection with the public network of customer provided communications terminal devices and systems become effective on January 1st. On January 15th, AT&T agrees to sell its teletypewriter exchange service to the Western Union Telegraph Company. WU will now be responsible for providing TWX service to customers. AT&T will retain its private teletypewriter services. In June, the Bell System reaches its 90 millionth telephone installed. In November, AT&T announces its DataPhone 50 service, a high speed data and facsimile service. Bell Labs creates UNIX operating system.

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