TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICES

FRESNO CENTRAL OFFICES

FRESNO "MAIN" CENTRAL OFFICE

PACIFIC BELL/SBC TANDEM and AT&T TOLL OFFICE

  The Fresno "Main" central office serves Pacific Bell/SBC as the main regional tandem for the central valley area and AT&T for long distance and toll services.  The office was originally built by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company (later Pacific Bell) in the 1910s then added onto and modified in the 1970s with a more modern, typical windowless concrete structure.  Fresno became an AT&T Long Lines microwave hub when TD-2 microwave service was introduced in the early 1960s with connections to Joaquin Ridge and Red Top.  Fresno was a primary center in the hierarchy switching plan and had direct trunk groups to the Stockton Sectional Office. AT&T added #4A equipment here in June of 1972.  Early fiber routes connected Fresno to Merced and Bakersfield.  Fresno also served as primary hosting center for the numerous remote switches located in the valley and along the southern Sierras.  Today the CO has major fiber connections to Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Merced, Modesto, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, Stockton and Visalia.

Microwave paths from Fresno were: Red Top (Ponderosa) and Joaquin Ridge.

  Original office building looking toward the southeast.  Microwave horns pointed to Joaquin Ridge.

   South view of buildings with microwave structure detail.  Newer building addition toward rear.

  Looking toward the west, showing original office on right and new addition constructed in late 1970s.  Microwave horns pointed toward Red Top.

  View looking to the north showing newer office addition.

  Entrance at AT&T site.  Note AT&T sign at door.

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