Patrick Schlott, an electrical engineer living in rural Vermont, realized his community had a serious problem when he discovered there was no cell phone service for 10 miles in either direction from his home. The creative engineer decided to put his skills to work by buying old pay phones at flea markets and auctions for $100 to $500 each, then fixing them up in his basement workshop. He removes the coin mechanisms and connects the phones to internet service, creating completely free calling stations that he calls “RandTel” for communities in need. His first installation outside the North Tunbridge General Store has been such a success that community members have reached out requesting more phones in their areas.
So far, Schlott has installed three free phones at locations including the Latham Library in Thetford and an information booth in Randolph off Interstate 89, with another installation planned at the Brownell Library in Essex. The phone at the library has been especially popular, with 370 calls made in just five months, mostly from students without cell phones calling their parents for after-school pickups. Store owner Mike Gross says people are amazed when they discover the pay phone actually works and costs nothing to use, with stranded motorists and others in need regularly taking advantage of the service. Schlott continues to cover all the costs himself and even acts as an operator when people dial zero, proving that sometimes the best solutions combine old technology with generous hearts.