A professional who relays telegraph and radio messages by telephone. Respnsibilities include:

• Calls addressee, using telephone directories and card indexes to locate telephone number.
• Reads message and spells misunderstood words, using phonetic alphabet.
• Solicits reply to promote sale of services.
• Records message to be sent, using pen, pencil, or typewriter.
• Suggests rewording, if necessary, for clarity and conciseness.
• Quotes rates, explains classifications, and reads sample messages to aid customer in preparing message.
• Counts message units, reads rates in rate book, and records rate on customer bill.
• May operate telephone switchboard equipment.