New Tech, Old Backup?

[drcpunk]

mnemex is talking about switching over to FIOS. I want to have a back up if we do this, a functional land line of the type that will work in a blackout, e.g. a non-cordless phone.

mnemex thinks I'm being a little silly, as we have more time by far where there isn't a blackout than when there is.

I am not being silly. I am not being paranoid. I am being sensible and applying the experiences of 2003 and 2006 (I think that's the correct year.)

womzilla: What, it's not as if you've had a ten day power outage -- oh wait, yes you have.

Exactly.

And I have zero confidence that it won't happen again. So, how do we get this wonderful new FIOS future without chopping down our safety net?