Carterfone

Carterfone

The Carterfone is a device invented by Thomas Carter. It connects a two-way mobile radio system to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

The device was acoustically, but not electrically, connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network. It was electrically connected to the base station of the mobile radio system, and got its power from the base station. All the electrical parts were encased in bakelite. When someone on the radio wished to speak to someone on phone, or "landline" (eg, "Central dispatch, patch me through to McGarrett"), the station operator at the base would dial the number. When callers on the radio and on the telephone are both in contact with the base station operator, the handset of the operator's telephone is placed on a cradle in the Carterfone device. A voice control circuit in the Carterfone automatically switches on the radio transmitter when the telephone caller is speaking; when he stops speaking, the radio returns to a receiving condition. A separate speaker is attached to the Carterfone to allow the base station operator to monitor the conversation, adjust the voice volume, and hang up his telephone when the conversation has ended.

This particular device was involved in a landmark United States regulatory decision related to telecommunications. The 1968 Federal Communications Commission allowed the Carterfone and other devices to be connected directly to the AT&T network, as long as they did not cause damage to the system. This ruling (13 F.C.C.2d 420) created the possibility of selling devices that could connect to the phone system using a protective coupler, and opened the market to customer owned equipment.

In February 2007, a petition was filed with the FCC by Skype, requesting the FCC to apply the Carterfone regulations to the wireless industry - which would mean that OEMs, portals and others will be able to offer wireless devices and services without the cellular operators needing to approve the handsets. However, on 1 April 2008 the FCC chairman indicated that he would oppose Skype's request. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080401/wr_nm/telecoms_cita_skype_fcc_dc_1]

ee also

*Hush-a-Phone v. FCC
*Modem
*Cordless telephone

References

* [http://www.uiowa.edu/~cyberlaw/FCCOps/1968/13F2-420.html Full text of FCC Carterfone decision]
* [http://files.ctia.org/pdf/Skype_Wireless_Device_Petition_2-20-07.pdf Full text of Skype petition]

External links

* [http://www.cybertelecom.org/ci/cpe.htm Cybertelecom :: Customer Premise Equipment] - FCC Regulations concerning attachment and marketing of CPE
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12344564 Timeline from NPR]
* [http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/carterfone-40-years.ars ArsTechnica: Any lawful device - 40 years after the Carterfone decision (includes picture of the Carterfone)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carterfone — Traduction à relire Carterfone → Carterfone …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carterfone — Akustikkoppler, 1958 entwickelt von Tom F. Carter für den Betrieb am öffentl. Telefonnetz, bewirkte durch Verbot von Bell und AT&T und der Klage (Carterfone Case) ab 1968 zur Deregulierung des monopolistischen Telefonwesens in den USA, Carter… …   Acronyms

  • Carterfone — Akustikkoppler, 1958 entwickelt von Tom F. Carter für den Betrieb am öffentl. Telefonnetz, bewirkte durch Verbot von Bell und AT&T und der Klage (Carterfone Case) ab 1968 zur Deregulierung des monopolistischen Telefonwesens in den USA, Carter… …   Acronyms von A bis Z

  • Carterfone decision —    Landmark FCC decision in 1968 that allowed non telephone company equipment to be connected to the public telephone network …   IT glossary of terms, acronyms and abbreviations

  • Tim Wu — (吳修銘) is a professor at Columbia Law School, the chair of media reform group Free Press, and a writer for Slate Magazine. He is best known for popularizing the concept of network neutrality, which he is credited with coining during a conversation …   Wikipedia

  • Modem — For other uses, see Modem (disambiguation). A modem (modulator demodulator) is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The… …   Wikipedia

  • MCI Communications — This article is about MCI before it merged with WorldCom. For other uses, see MCI. MCI corporate logo before WorldCom merger MCI Communications Corp. was an American telecommunications company that was instrumental in legal and regulatory changes …   Wikipedia

  • Hush-A-Phone v. United States — Infobox COA case Litigants=Hush A Phone Corp. v. United States Court=United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Court ArgueDate=October 4 ArgueYear=1956 DecideDate=November 8 DecideYear=1956 FullName=Hush A Phone Corporation and Harry C …   Wikipedia

  • AT&T Corporation — For the 2005 parent company currently known as AT T and formerly Southwestern Bell/ SBC, see AT T. AT T Corp. Type Subsidiary Industry …   Wikipedia

  • American Telephone & Telegraph — For other companies with similar names, see AT T (disambiguation). Infobox Company company name = AT T Corporation company logo = type = Private (Subsidiary of AT T Inc.) foundation = 1885 location = Bedminster, New Jersey, United States industry …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”