A Phone of Our Own: The Deaf Insurrection Against Ma Bell

9. Foreign Affairs

L FOREIGN AFFAIRS Weitbrecht, Marsters, and Saks envisioned a time when telephone access for deaf people would be worldwide. Marsters had taken the first steps when he had introduced the modem and TTY to England and continental Europe on a tour with his family in 1966. By the early 1970s, more efforts were underway, and they highlighted many of the same issues of technological compatibility, attitudinal resistance, and hearing dominance that were prominent in the United States. Government ownership of telephone systems introduced another complicating factor. ' Richard Murphy, a deafengineer in England, faced a difficult challenge in 1971 when he attempted to start a TTY network. Telephone use in the United Kingdom was controlled by the government, specifically by the Post Office. The United Kingdom's Post Office was not receptive to the model developed by APCOM. The Post Office, like AT&T in the United States, preferred to supply its own limited teletypewriter exchange services and rental equipment. In December 1971, Murphy wrote to Marsters: "It looks like the end of our efforts to start the Phonetype system in this country and needless to say I am extremely disappointed about it."l Marsters wrote back in his typically crafty, intelligent style that he wished deaf people themselves would take things on and get them moving. He encouraged Murphy to write a member ofParliament who has a hearing impairment and who appreciates the importance of deaf people being able to use the telephone .... Perhaps you may be able to stir up repeated storms and realize such publicity that will encourage the Post Office to give it a try? ... I do know a dynamic individual like you can do much to ex130 FOREIGN AFFAIRS I 131 pedite the realization of a dream. Most of the good things in life have happened as the result of much hard work by just a few individuals.2 Initially, APCOM hoped that strategically placing some Phonetype modems in the United Kingdom might be a ticket to more sales. Perhaps someone there might take the lead in developing a network. Murphy's experiences with the Post Office only confirmed their suspicion that another long battle would be needed: I am afraid it will be most difficult for me or anyone else to start the Phonetype system here.... Messrs Creeds [TTY manufacturer] have completely withdrawn all help in this matter. They will not supply me with used teleprinters or technical aid- They have even taken back the two teleprinters and equipment which they gave me.... The P.O. authorities can do much as they like-in fact they are a law unto themselves.3 The APCOM partners would have to put more direct effort into the British situation, but not before they had encouraged developments in Canada. Saks was an evangelist in the international effort. Unlike the moody Weitbrecht, he stayed out ofany public display ofemotions in the modem war in 1972, instead focusing on business. In March of 1972, he and his wife, Jean, took a Model 31 TTY to Vancouver, British Columbia , and began a demonstration tour. They stopped at various cities all the way to Montreal. At one point, Saks called Breunig and said, I FEEL LIKE A MINISTER ON A CIRCUIT SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF THE PHONETYPE AND I FEEL I DID WELL.4 During the demonstration trip, the Model 31 performed very well and handled the Trimline and automatic telephones, but Saks had trouble with the General Telephone units. He had to unscrew the microphone of the telephone handset mouthpiece and drop it onto the pickup coil of the Phonetype cradle. Marsters followed through on Saks's initiative with his usual energy . He traveled to Edmonton and encouraged Canadians to consider establishing a hotline answering service. He met with Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railroad officials to arrange donations of 132 I FOREIGN AFFAIRS surplus TTYs and with the Alberta Government Telephone Company to discuss modifications of Phonetype for the Canadian network. The British Columbia Telephone Company and other companies were then contacted for discarded TTYs. By December of 1972 there were more than 200 TTYs in the Canadian network. It was time to look at Europe again. Europe hardly seemed ready for the TTY in 1972, however. Inefficient telephone systems and government resistance presented barriers everywhere. In 1971, APCOM had sent two Phonetypes to Sweden . Even though the Swedish telephone company appeared resistant to it, the Swedish Association for the Deafwas planning...