Bell System Practices
Encyclopedia
The Bell System Practices is a multi-volume encyclopedia of technology information developed and formerly maintained by the Bell System
's Bell Labs
for use by its employees. Everything from accounting and human resources procedures to complete technical breakdowns of every product serviced by the Bell System is covered, with details specific to the best way to wrap a wire around a screw. Each Practice was designated by a nine digit number, divided into groups of three.
With sections regularly updated, printed and distributed, the "BSPs" were the key to the standardized service quality throughout the country, and allowed employees who had never met to easily work with one another in the event of a service outage disaster or merely when relocating. While publishing ceased with the breakup of the Bell System
, many of the practices defined by the BSPs are still used today and many have been adopted as canon by the International Telecommunication Union
.
Bell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
's Bell Labs
Bell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
for use by its employees. Everything from accounting and human resources procedures to complete technical breakdowns of every product serviced by the Bell System is covered, with details specific to the best way to wrap a wire around a screw. Each Practice was designated by a nine digit number, divided into groups of three.
With sections regularly updated, printed and distributed, the "BSPs" were the key to the standardized service quality throughout the country, and allowed employees who had never met to easily work with one another in the event of a service outage disaster or merely when relocating. While publishing ceased with the breakup of the Bell System
Bell System
The Bell System was the American Bell Telephone Company and then, subsequently, AT&T led system which provided telephone services to much of the United States and Canada from 1877 to 1984, at various times as a monopoly. In 1984, the company was broken up into separate companies, by a U.S...
, many of the practices defined by the BSPs are still used today and many have been adopted as canon by the International Telecommunication Union
International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is the specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies...
.