Sounds like you should be writing a novel, too.
Thanks, Robert. That does give some depth to the communication issue.
The communications part of my story is necessary background thing since it's dealing with a reporter on the trail of a murder story while she's trapped in a mountain cabin with the former rock star she had dug out of his chosen oblivion. So she has to communicate with townspeople to ask questions, etc. Plus she has a column due to her employer. And did I mention the Irish Mobster who used to be friends with the rock star...