Abstract

The commune of Treviso emerges from the survey as the main promoter and user of the telephone service in the period between 1886 and 1925. The administration was directly involved in the development of the telephone in order to ensure a more efficient communal service to protect the safety and health of citizens. Conflict arose between technicians and local politicians on how to promote the development of telephony. The high costs of setting up its own telephone service prompted the municipality - not without controversy - first to provide support for external contractors and then to become a shareholder in the telephone company.