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Show Zero Plus Replaces Americana SALT LAKE CITY-Mountain Bell customers in Park City were part of the passing of a bit of Americana June 30 and most didn't even realize it. That was the date the telephone tele-phone company retired the last long distance cord board in the Salt Lake City office and converted to the faster, more accurate "Zero-Plus" dialing system. The new equipment replaces the old-style, mahogany cord-type cord-type switchboard which has long been associated with the telephone tele-phone company. It has served Park City long distance customers since 1940. While "Zero-Plus" dialing allows each operator to handle at least twice as many calls per hour and customers can place certain types of calls up to forty percent faster, the change was not without mixed emotions among some long-time telephone company com-pany employees. "It's impossible to work on a board like this for as long as I have without feeling a bit melancholy about the change," admitted Gloria Unamuno, manager man-ager of operator services. Mrs. Unamuno had worked on the board since 1954. "I accept the change because it's a part of progress and our customers deserve the better service it can provide, but I can't help but feel a little sad," she added. This was the second major cutover of its type in the past six months. With the change, all communities served by the Salt Lake office (except Kearns and Riverton) are now served by the "Zero-Plus" dialing equipment. Kearns and Riverton will be cutover to the new system later this year. Provo, Ogden, Price and Logan are scheduled to be converted to "Zero-Plus" dialing in 1978. Ken Hill, Utah Public Relations Manager encouraged Park City telephone users to become familiar with the new method of placing certain long distance calls and use it whenever possible. |