response 113 of 253:

Feb 2 16:44 UTC 2006

Re #11: tell us how two people living some distance apart, who do not have
computers or fax machines, can without prior arrangement get a written message
sent by one to the other within an hour or two? Public fax machines and
computers don't help in the delivery of the message. 

It's jep's figures in #112 that explain the failure of telegraph service: most
people have better means, but this still leaves a few in the lurch. They will
just have to "get with the program" (literally and figuratively). 

"Long distance" telephone service may become another victim. Since we now 
have cell phones, and don't make international calls, we never use POTS 
long-distance. Even POTS is under some threat. We dropped our second line 
since we moved to cable internet. Our daughter doesn't have POTS at all, 
relying solely on a cell phone.