Clinton, the only way they could "clear" the lines is to shut down the entire system, which is a bit counter-productive. Otherwise, they would have to -- somehow -- monitor every call and decide what was an emergency call and what wasn't. While volcanoes are erupting and skysdrapers are collapsing, unrelated medical and other emergencies still come up, and people have to be able to make "911" calls. No, about all they can do is get the broadcast media to beg people not to use the phone unless they absolutely have to. Or pray for a sudden, wide-spread attack of common sense, which doesn't seem all that likely.

Don Firth