[2] Karl Anderson stated that one motivation for the project was to explore the idea of urban furniture.

Other reasons were to preserve an important part of hacker history, and to salvage and re-use manufactured items at the end of their lifecycle.

[8] Volunteers act as telephone operators, offering information about the Futel service, or are available for conversation.

[10] Phones were set up in Detroit and Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Long Beach, Washington.

[11][8] The organization has provided free phone service for a Portland-area homeless encampment after receiving funding from the Awesome Foundation.