Is a one sided conversation still a conversation? I don't think it matters, because I don't think there's any chance that that's not what happened. First, the article says we told the agent to put us on the list. Second, do you think if we don't speak to the agent beforehand he is going to schedule Buffalo for the first visit?
The bottom line is it probably doesn't matter unless Houston decides to make it an issue, but this is probably tampering (according to the letter of the law.)