[Scan-DC] A little off topic - Phone "Outrage"

[oldsdoug at hotmail.com]

Not radio stuff, but landline stuff... Received the message below yesterday from Alert Montgomery... 35000 people out, it lasted maybe 4 or 5 hours, but didn't make the local news as far as I can tell... did anyone happen to hear what was going on?

On my end, I had a dial tone and _appeared_ to be able to dial out, but when the call "went through" (which it actually didn't), I got a fast busy signal. Once I found about it, and tried to call in using the cell phone, I got four ring tones and then nothing. This kind of stuff has happened before out here occasionally, but only lasted a few mins... I suspect a computer glitch...

Incidentally, I received one text msg alert that said something to the effect of "Individuals who are having trouble calling out from their Verizon land line telephone should use a cell phone to call 911, or go directly to their nearest fire and rescue or police station for help." what they meant was to use a cell phone in an emergency, as below, but what came across was "Call 911 from a cell phone if your landline isn't working.", ie, call 911 to tell them that your landline isn't working. - I wonder how many help-my-phone-isn't working 911 calls they got!

I'm beginning to think that English is a dying language... be sure you say what you really mean! ;)

Welcome to Verizon!

James Earl Jones

> From: msg2583 at alertmc.info
> To: rsan at alertmc.info
> Subject: Message from Alert Montgomery
> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:56:21 -0400
>
> The Montgomery County 911 system is currently unaffected by a Verizon telephone problem in Gaithersburg. Approximately 35,000 Verizon land lines are affected by the problem, but Verizon cell phones are still functional.
>
> Individuals who are having trouble calling out from their Verizon land line telephone and are experiencing an emergency should use a cell phone to call 911, or go directly to their nearest fire and rescue or police station for help.
>
>

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