While history buffs recognize the name Elisha Gray, virtually everybody in the modern world makes regular use of the technology originally patented by Alexander Graham Bell-the telephone. Gray and Bell famously filed with the United States Patent Office, for essentially the same invention of the telephone, on the same day. About two decades after founding Bell Telephone Company, Alexander Graham Bell eventually emerged victorious from lengthy legal battles with Gray and the rest, as the saying goes, is history. Except that the history of both men's innovations live on, as Gray went on to co-found Western Electric.
But it's Bell whose legacy is golden, whose name lives on in the annals of communications technology, who invented twisted-pair cable as well as the optical-based photophone, and who was nominated several times as an individual who deserves to be recognized as a great influencer of today's structured cabling industry.
AT&T's Bell System brought twisted-pair wiring into, and between, residences and office buildings throughout North America. The invention of Alexander Graham Bell spawned the construction of the world's communications infrastructure. It would be impossible to overstate his contributions to this industry.
