The Nome Nugget

ACS Plans Replacement of Military Personnel with Civilian Employes

Reorganization of the Alaska Communications System to replace Army personnel with civilian employes in all but three cities of the territory was announced last week.

Col. Carl D. Hatch, Army commander of the wide-spread telephone and telegraph system that provides communication services throughout Alaska, made the announcement.

He said the ACS probably would be sold to civilian operators if Congress passes enabling legislation and if anybody showed an interest.

At the present time, he said, there were no interested prospective buyers.

Under the reorganization plan, Col. Hatch said, only the ACS stations at Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau would be manned by military personnel after next Jan. 1.

ACS maintenance crews will operate out of those three cities to service equipment in other areas, he said.

The curtailment of Army personnel throughout the system, he said, was designed as an economy move, but that new procedures would result in more efficient operations.

Col. Hatch said the reorganization would put into effect a continental toll dialing system that would speed telephone service from Alaska to the states.

Under the plan, he said, stations outside of the three cities would be manned by civilian employes who would accept telegraph messages and dispatch them by teletype.

Phone calls would be relayed through the major cities, from where operators would dial long distance numbers in the states.

Col. Hatch said the goal under the new system was to trim the time lag on any phone call to the states to eight seconds.