Well, since I have a landline, I don't lose my phone service during a power outage, unlike cable phone service or voip service, both of which lose service immediately during a power outage. Cell phones are only slightly better, having some generator or battery back-up, but not nearly as much as your local Telco. However, if my local switching station loses power, diesel generators immediately kick in and there is enough fuel put back for at least 3-4 days. After that, battery back-up provides another 6-8 or so hours of power. The main problem with this scenario is the need to keep the switching equipment cool. With no AC to keep the office cool, equipment can overheat and fail. Central Offices (C.O.s) do not have windows that open, if they have windows at all (rare). Dust is an enemy to the C.O., so the ability to cool the switches during an outage without AC, if said outage actually occurred during cold weather, is moot. An extended outage may cause equipment to fail or may require your Telco to shut down, at least for a time, in order for the equipment to cool. The good news is that C.O.s are considered 'top priority', meaning that they will be among the very first places to receive service. Police and fire stations, along with hospitals, all need phone service, so the C.O.s are going to be a top priority. Personally, I've never lost phone service due to a power outage. Cell towers and/or the cable companies are not nearly as important as your landline provider. If you want the most reliable service, stick with your local Telco.