Okay. So now the phone doesn't work.

Not sure, but I know some people complained of not getting the reverse 911 warnings to evacuate in the recent So.Cal fires. Not sure if that was related to cell phone only households or there was some other factor.

My phone is finally working.

And there are two new patches of concrete down at the cross street. One on the sidewalk and one in the alley. I guess they found the problem and fixed it. No more static on the line either. Only took them five days.