Our elected officials are always looking out for our best interests, right? In 1930, the U.S. Senate actually banned dial telephones in the Senate's offices and talked about extending the ban to all of Washington, D.C. The reason? The all-knowledgeable senators felt that they shouldn't be performing the work of a telephone operator.
The resolution, which passed, read:
The resolution, which passed, read:
Whereas dial telephones are more difficult to operate than are manual telephones; and Whereas Senators are required, since the installation of dial phones in the Capitol, to perform the duties of telephone operators in order to enjoy the benefits of telephone service; and Whereas dial telephones have failed to expedite telephone service; Therefore be it resolved that the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate is authorized and directed to order the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. to replace with manual phones within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution, all dial telephones in the Senate wing of the United States Capitol and in the Senate office building.You can read more at http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100919/02284211072/back-when-the-senate-tried-to-ban-dial-telephones.shtml
It scares me to think that today's senators are considering bills that impact modern technology.
