Operator assistance

Operator assistance is when you need help from a person who works for a company, like a telephone company. They are called operators because they operate the machinery that connects your phone to the other person's phone.

When you need their help, you can pick up the phone and dial "0" or "operator" and they will answer. Then you can tell them what you need help with.

Let's say you want to call your grandma in another state, but you don't know her number. You can ask the operator to help you find her number. They will ask you for her city and name, and then look up her number in a big book.

The operator might also help you if there is a problem with your phone line or if you need to make a special long-distance call.

So, basically, operator assistance is when you need help with your phone and a person at the phone company can help you out!