[Blindtlk] Directory Assistance???

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

Just some history, and the ideas for electronic access are all good. A few of us may remember in the mid-1970s when the telephone company (yes, Virginia, most of us had only one) decided to charge for DA. The only other alternative was to read the number in the telephone books. The phonebooks were free. We maintained that if free directories were available to those who could read print, then free directory assistance must be available for those who couldn't. This is where the doctor's signature came in.

We now do have alternatives, and the printed telephone book is an anachronism at best, and a place to advertise. I for one, miss the ability to put adds in the book. I know for a fact that the reason the Oregon affiliate got almost a two million dollar bequest was we listed under blind in some small town books. So when the attorney was drawing up the will, and they wanted to help blind people, there we were.