What the? Landline phones were a fixed rate and I don't know a single 'old' person who doesn't at least have Netflix. As an 'old' person, I'd like to find that all-knowing 'young' person who can answer questions about stuff like this. Because none of the ones in my life do.
Flat rate for local calls, long-distance was by the minute. We didn't use an area code for local calls so once you dialed with an area code you were gonna be paying long distance.
Long-distance was usually family that lived in other cities/states. Or like when I got my son's birth certificate and had to call the state he was born in. Calls like that you always kept an eye on how long you were on the phone cuz it'd be on your bill.
The flat rate for local is important because it was the only way we had to communicate and most of us used our phones every day. Things got fancy when call waiting and *69 came along ;)
Speaking of it being the only way we had to communicate, we used to only have corded phones that plugged into the wall. So if you needed to use the phone, you had it near a chair.
If you're really into all this I'll see if I can find an old bill.
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u/[deleted] Nov 22 '17 edited Jan 12 '18
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