Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Spacecraft Tracking and Data Acquisition Network replaced the Minitrack system to handle long-duration missions. This transition addressed specific requirements for highly available space-to-ground communications within the growing American space program.
Parabolic dish antennas stood at locations ranging from Santiago, Chile to Fairbanks, Alaska. Additional sites existed in Bermuda, South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, Ecuador, Madagascar, Shoe Cove, Newfoundland, England, and Greece.
Real-time operational control originated from the Network Operations Control Center located at Goddard Space Flight Center. Greenbelt, Maryland housed this hub where engineers managed scheduling for the entire global network.
May 1971 marked a significant shift when STADAN merged with the Manned Space Flight Network. The combined entity formed the unified Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network known as STDN.
Science News reported station closings scheduled for the 12th of January 1980. Most ground stations phased out their operations during the early 1980s as technology evolved.