[da_chicken]

So there should be a human operator manually gatekeeping every individual request to connect with another endpoint?

It's a good thing those human operators couldn't listen in to whichever conversation they wanted.

[acuozzo]

Human operators were not required of The Bell Telephone Company by law. Bell switched to mechanical switching stations as soon as doing so was economically advantageous.

(Reconsider my post. I'm arguing for no regulation.)

[da_chicken]

You're arguing for no regulation and your example is one of the most oppressive and stifling monopolies in American history?

[lmz]

Sure. And "lawful access" intercept capabilities are also required of telcos.