Telecom Collapse?

Thu Dec 4 16:54:28 UTC 2008

On 2008-12-04, at 11:06, Chris Marlatt wrote:

> That's assuming they're not doing the same thing you are, are home, or
> are willing to let you borrow their phone. You're assuming a lot. I  
> find
> it surprising that many people replying haven't kept a 911 only POTS  
> line.

This is straying far from network operations, but I think 911  
generally engenders an unnecessary degree of hysteria. As I suggested  
before, the marketing of this fear from certain quarters has  
apparently been quiet effective.

The probability of any single individual needing to call 911 is  
already minute. The probably that all available cell and VoIP services  
also won't work precisely at the moment that a 911 call needs to be  
made is even smaller.

You're probably more likely to accidentally brutally stab yourself in  
the neck whilst combing your hair.

A sense of perspective in these things can be useful, in my opinion.  
Cries of "but think of the children!" are merely entertaining, in my  
opinion.

Joe