The Privateline.com F.A.Q. (frequently asked questions)

What's this web site about?

How telecom technology works and its history.

Any exceptions?

Little on business applications. Nothing on office telephone systems, conferencing equipment, or CENTREX.

Wasn't this site called TelecomWriting.com?

For about two years. But I am going back to the original name: privateline.com. This transition will take a while to complete. All links to TelecomWriting.com will still work, everything resolves or points to privateline.com. private line was the name of my old telephone magazine.

So you did publish a magazine?

Yes, years ago. private line was a non-corporate, hacker friendly publication focused on explaining how telecom worked. This website grew out of publishing the magazine. private line ran in hardcopy from June, 1994 to January, 1996. It was a critical success but a commercial failure. No advertisers and the bankruptcy of my main distributor helped kill it. For details about the magazine's demise consult the file "What happened to private line?"

What's the goal of this website?

To provide you that piece of information you are looking for.

What about your writing experience?

My previous writing experience was in the law. I have also been a garden columnist, once writing for the Rio Vista Herald in Rio Vista, California. I learn and write as I go, soliciting help by e-mail from experts kind enough to help. The greatest influence on my writing style has been George Orwell's essay Politics and the English Language.

I answer all of my e-mail as I have since I have been on the net. People appreciate it as you can tell by this file. Please send me an e-mail if you have any questions or comments. Best, Tom Farley

All this is boring. Do some name dropping!

I've answered questions for and given referrals to writers and producers from the History Channel, The Discovery Channel, the New York Times, The BBC, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Economist, The F.C.C., The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and so on. It's been pHun. I don't get written about much myself, but I liked the San Francisco Chronicle's description. They once called me "an intense man in a Patagonia jacket."