In 1947, the Federal Communication
Commission authorized the Doctors Telephone Exchange to create a radiophone
system in Freeport. This system allowed doctors, lawyers,
taxi companies and other business to install a two-way radio system in cars for
the purpose of emergency communication. The antennas for this system were placed
on the roof of the First National Bank
and Trust Company. The height of the building allowed the
radiophone system to have a radius of 10 miles.
According to articles in the Leader and Newsday, this
may have been the first radiophone system in the United
States.
Sources:
"Radio to Relay Phone Calls to Fpt. Autos." Newsday. 20 September 1947, p. 9
"Radiophone Service to Relay Messages to Drivers in Their Cars." Leader. 2 October 1947, p. 10
