Summary
An engineer in Vermont, Patrick Schlott, has repurposed old pay phones to allow free calls in areas with poor cell service. He covers the costs himself and aims to provide a reliable communication option, especially as local schools plan to limit cell phone use.
Key Facts
- Patrick Schlott is an electrical engineer from Vermont.
- He restores old pay phones to provide free public calls.
- These phones work with an internet connection and do not require coins.
- Schlott funds the project himself, seeing it as a valuable community service.
- Pay phones are placed in three towns in Orange County, Vermont.
- The phones are popular for emergencies and everyday communication.
- Vermont plans to ban cell phones in schools starting in 2026, increasing the need for alternative communication methods.
- Schlott is exploring options to sustain his project as it grows, but he is committed to keeping calls free.