[BC] Verizon T1 and batteries

[rj carpenter]

Quote ===========
There have long been 200 lines going to a "rotary device" in the some 
what remote neighborhoods that supply telephone service to perhaps 2,000 
houses.  If a plane crashed nearby, 90% of the people would get a busy 
signal instead of a dial tone.
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And what would happen if all 2000 tried to use their cell phones?

Any service based on "typical" usage will fall down in the extreme, 
extreme case.