Sure, but we were talking about the US, which is so developed that it doesn’t even have 3G anymore. Americans own over one personal motor vehicle per household,

Sure, but we were talking about the US, which is so developed that it doesn’t even have 3G anymore. Americans own over one personal motor vehicle per household, they could charge their phone with their car if they really had to. Less than one hour of the California minimum wage buys you a 30W solar panel or a large spare battery to charge your phone. The risks are minimal. And I’ve definitely had phone lines go out in the past. All it takes is one tree falling. The lines are on the same poles as the electric service. Sure, they were more reliable, but not by any measure that makes them worth keeping around (especially since the vast majority of lines sit completely inactive).