Re:Why the Soviet Union did not build a nationwide computer ...
by Florin_Andrei on Wednesday November 01, 2017 @04:49PM
(#15605343)
Like everything else, context was very important.
There were amateur radio operators in the Eastern Bloc countries, with equipment capable of transmitting a signal to the opposite side of the Earth on a good day. But they were licensed by the government, and were aware that their activities were being watched.
The old regime really hated not having control over you. That was the most important thing. As long as they knew what you were doing, and approved, they were fine with almost anything.
I've built a few low-power FM transmitters back then, and I was aware of the possible dangers. It was more of a high-schooler's hobby. But teenagers like to push boundaries anyway.
The long wait list was because nobody would process the list. All the people that the regime considered needed phones already had them. All the rest were "waiting". Years later I found out that in my city there was plenty of capacity. I'm a telecommunications egineer.
I believe the coupled line didn't need any approval: the number was already allocated. If your neighbor wanted he could allow you to connect but he was on the hook if you did any "bad" stuff (like planning a Revolution). There was also a problem from where to buy the second phone...
As far as I know these were the rules. Like in any regime people could bend the rules or follow them to the letter. It all depended on the specific situation and the people involved.