Barbed wire telephone lines were local networks created in rural America at the end of…

1AKHViYgBGbmxi8qiJkNvoHNeDu9m3MfPE (4355) · November 15, 2019

Barbed wire telephone lines were local networks created in rural America at the end of the 19th century and beginning of 20th century.

Replies

1AKHViYgBGbmxi8qiJkNvoHNeDu9m3MfPE (4355) · November 15, 2019

In some isolated farmers' communities, it was not cost-effective for corporations to invest in the telephone infrastructure.

1AKHViYgBGbmxi8qiJkNvoHNeDu9m3MfPE (4355) · November 15, 2019

Instead, the existing extent of barbed wire fences could be used to transmit electric signals and connect phones in neighboring farms.

1AKHViYgBGbmxi8qiJkNvoHNeDu9m3MfPE (4355) · November 15, 2019

In 1902, The New York Times reported that ranchers in Montana were inaugurating a telephone exchange in Fort Benton, with the goal of eventually connecting every city in the state.

1AKHViYgBGbmxi8qiJkNvoHNeDu9m3MfPE (4355) · November 15, 2019

The main purpose of such networks was to transmit information about weather conditions and train schedules.

1FAyqXnPnR2zNra9nJuaPj1yDH2SB4DVTt (2339) · October 23, 2020

Montana was not serviced by Bell, so the farmers and ranchers built a co-op they ran. The internet should be built this way imho.

1FAyqXnPnR2zNra9nJuaPj1yDH2SB4DVTt (2339) · October 23, 2020

That's one of the reasons I've wanted to buy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havre_Air_Force_Station for awhile. To act as a giant networking node for farmers and ranchers.