Societal Influences
- See Full List of AI Topics -
The Committee of Ten Million
to Oppose All-Number Calling was an organization that was formed in 1960 in the
United States in response to the increasing use of all-number dialing for telephone
calls. Like the Anti-Digit Dialing League, the Committee of Ten Million believed
that all-number calling was impersonal and dehumanizing, and that it threatened
to erode the community and social values that were associated with traditional letter-and-number
dialing.
The organization was founded by Reverend John "Jolly John" H. Griffin, an African
American Baptist minister from Louisiana who was also a civil rights activist. Griffin
believed that all-number calling was part of a larger trend of technological dehumanization
and that it disproportionately affected minority communities, who were more likely
to rely on telephone services as a means of communication.
The Committee of Ten Million used a variety of tactics to oppose all-number calling,
including public demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, and legal action. They
also tried to raise public awareness about the issue by distributing pamphlets,
staging mock funerals for the traditional dialing system, and organizing boycotts
of telephone services.
Despite their efforts, all-number dialing eventually became the standard for
telephone calls in the United States and in many other countries around the world.
However, the Committee of Ten Million is remembered as an important voice in the
history of telecommunications and as an early example of grassroots activism against
technological change.
This content was generated by the ChatGPT
artificial intelligence (AI) engine. Some review was performed to help detect and
correct any inaccuracies; however, you are encouraged to verify the information
yourself if it will be used for critical applications. In some cases, multiple solicitations
to ChatGPT were used to assimilate final content. Images and external hyperlinks
have also been added occasionally. Courts have ruled that AI-generated content is
not subject to copyright restrictions, but since I modify them, everything here
is protected by RF Cafe copyright. Your use of this data implies an agreement to
hold totally harmless Kirt Blattenberger, RF Cafe, and any and all of its assigns.
Thank you. Here are the major categories.
Electronics & High Technology
Company History | Electronics &
Technical Publications | Electronics &
Technology Pioneers History | Electronics &
Technology Principles |
Technology Standards
Groups & Industry Associations |
Electronics & High Technology
Components | Societal Influences
on Technology | Science &
Engineering Instruments
|
