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Recognizing May 7, 2026, as Alexander Graham Bell and AT&T Day in the City of Philadelphia on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the first successful phone call and the ultimate founding of AT&T, as well as the first broad public demonstration of the telephone later that year at the Centennial World's Fair in the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Whether in government, commerce, or public safety, one thing has been essential through every era of progress: the ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and reliably; and
WHEREAS, On March 10, 2026, AT&T marked the 150th Anniversary of the first successful telephone call - a breakthrough that changed how people connect across distance and strengthened communities and accelerated economic and civic life; and
WHEREAS, In 1876, at America’s first official World’s Fair, the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated his invention, the telephone; and
WHEREAS, On November 14, 1878, the first commercial telephone exchange in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania opened in Philadelphia through the Bell Telephone Company, bringing a new kind of connection to homes, businesses, and institutions; and
WHEREAS, As communications evolved, Philadelphia remained central to its expansion. On October 1, 1930, the first interstate connection for the police teletypewriter network opened between New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, improving cross-state coordination and helping law enforcement share critical information faster and more reliably; and
WHEREAS, On October 1, 1948, a long-distance coaxial telephone cable linked Philadelphia through Pittsburgh to Cleveland, adding long-distance telephone circuits, and significantly expanding national communications capacity. Constructed through the joint efforts of the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, the Ohio Bell Telephone Company, and the AT&T Long Lines Department, this project underscored Philadelphia’s role as a vital hub in the nation’s communications network; and
WHEREAS, As we recognize this 150-year milestone, we also honor the workers and innovators who made these advancements possible: the engineers, technicians, operators, and public-safety professionals whose skill and dedication have helped keep people connected when it matters most; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes May 7, 2026, as Alexander Graham Bell and AT&T Day in the City of Philadelphia, marking the 150th Anniversary of the first successful phone call and the ultimate founding of AT&T, as well as the first broad public demonstration of the telephone later that year at the Centennial World's Fair.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Sadia Walker and Corey Alston of AT&T as evidence of the gratitude and sincere admiration of this legislative body.
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