The Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) was developed by Bell Labs in Columbus, Ohio to replace traditional cord switchboards. The first TSPS was deployed in Morristown, New Jersey in 1969 and used the Stored Program Control-1A CPU, "Piggyback" twistor memory (a proprietary technology developed by Bell Labs similar to core memory) and Insulated Gate Field Effect Transistor solid state memory devices similar to dynamic random access memory.
Features The TSPS system utilized special analog trunks that originated at Class 5 end office circuit switch systems and Class 4 toll access circuit switch systems that were connected to Class 3 primary toll circuit switch systems such as the 4A-ETS/PBC and 4ESS switch systems. The TSPS system did not perform switching between the originating end office switch and the toll switch for the subscriber voice path. The TSPS system included the "Remote Trunking Arrangement" (RTA) feature that consolidated the trunk connection at the originating switch and provided a switched connection to a telephone operator only as required for a short duration at the beginning of a call to obtain billing information or at the end of a call in which the caller requested "time and charges". The TSPS system provided a temporary switched connection to a toll operator who helped facilitate calls requiring human assistance such as person-to-person, collect, third-party-billed, and hotel billing. The TSPS system supported up to seven "Chief Operator Groups" (COGs) with each COG supporting up to 31 operator consoles, with two operator positions per console, for a total of 62 operators per COG. Operator consoles initially used nixie tubes to display phone numbers, that were quickly replaced by light-emitting diode displays due to reliability issues. The TSPS system was replaced by the Operator Service Position System (OSPS) feature package developed for the 5ESS switching system. During the era of TSPS systems, calls to mobile and marine radiotelephone customers were initially handled by operators at a Special Operator Service Treatment cord switchboard. Operator assisted calls to international destinations were handled by "Code 10" and "Code 11" operators generally co-located at special gateway international switching systems.
Operator Console The Traffic Service Position keyshelf was organized into functional groups of keys and lamps covering all aspects of call handling. Major sections included AMA (Automatic Message Accounting) timing controls, coin collection and return keys, class-charge keys (Station Paid, Person Paid, Collect, No AMA, Special Number/Credit Card, Hotel), and release and forward keys. A four-compartment ticket box on the console held mark sense billing cards in designated slots (New, Cancel, Scratch, and Completed).
Loops Operators managed up to three simultaneous call connections, referred to as "loops," each of which contained its own card slot and presented in one of three recognized states:
New Call Condition — a call newly arrived at the position, or one in which a new number has been keyed forward, requiring the operator to set the class-charge and initiate timing before release. Recall Access Condition — a call returning to the operator on a Notify (NFY) or Charge Due (CHG DUE) signal, or a customer flashing on a held call. Interim Access Condition — a transitional state following operation of the Cancel Call or Record Message key, before a new number is set up forward.
Underglass bulletin Each TSPS operator position included an underglass bulletin — a printed reference sheet mounted beneath the glass surface of the console work area, kept continuously accessible without the operator leaving the position. It served as the primary quick-reference source for information needed during live calls. Contents included: Bell System telephone credit card validity check lists (letter–digit correspondence tables, invalid Revenue Accounting Office (RAO) codes, and invalid card number lists); authorized special billing numbers; a zone map for determining Message unit (MU) rate steps for metropolitan area calls; and miscellaneous emergency numbers. The layout of the underglass bulletin was periodically revised by management as procedures changed.
Multi-leaf bulletin Supplementing the underglass bulletin, each TSPS position maintained a multi-leaf bulletin, also known as a cardex, multi-card, or flip cards, a card-file reference system containing rate and routing information organized by NPA and NXX. Pages typically covered rate steps and call routing for all points in the operator's serving area, overseas call procedures (with International Direct Distance Dialing points marked with asterisks), and a dedicated number-test page. Pages were updated by management staff as rate changes, new exchanges, or routing changes occurred. Operators were expected to consult the cards rather than rely on memory for rates, routing, or number-test procedures.
Billing For calls handled automatically by the Automatic Message Accounting (AMA) system, billing data was captured electronically by the TSPS equipment. For calls requiring manual operator involvement — including credit card, third-number, collect, and hotel calls — operators recorded billing data on IBM Mark sense cards. These paper cards contained pre-printed digit columns that operators completed using a mechanical pencil; the marked cards were subsequently processed by optical scanning equipment, bridging manual and automated billing workflows. Key fields on the front of the card included originating area code and number, destination NPA and NXX, dial rate, charge class, connect and disconnect times, elapsed minutes, and a "Bill To" section for third-number and credit card calls. The reverse of the card recorded charge amount, elapsed minutes, credit information, and special conditions such as Notify, Charge Due, or Delayed Call Trunk.
Charge class designations The mark-sense card included a set of pre-printed bubble fields that operators marked with a stylus to indicate the class of service for each call. In addition to the primary charge classes (Station Paid, Person Paid, Collect, Credit Card, Third Number, Hotel), specific situations called for supplementary bubble markings:
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