Abstract: A telephone control apparatus connected to an exchange accommodating a plurality of lines. The apparatus calls a connected communication terminal in accordance with a calling signal inputted from the exchange. In the apparatus, response information corresponding to the type of calling signals is stored in RAM 12 in advance. The type of a calling signal inputted from the exchange is discriminated, and response information is read out of the RAM12 in accordance with the discrimination result, to determine a corresponding response process. Further, a telephone exchange apparatus which accommodates a plurality of outside lines and which selects and seizes one of the outside lines by outgoing calling from an extension. Upon outgoing call operation from an extension, the stored information is referred to and one of the plurality of outside line is selected based upon a number of incoming calls received on each of the outside lines or the time period each one of the outside lines has been occupied in communication.