Why does my cellphone sometimes have service (I see several bars), but I see the annoying crossed out phone icon and when I try to call it says “emergency calls only”?
Is that the phone company locking that cell tower or the government? Or both?
Had that experience with the recent tornadoes through northern Alabama. I think the service provider can lock folks out. Might even be some automation involved as the cell towers typically have enough generator power/fuel to run for 24 hours.
Some of the providers, like Sprint and Verizon, were sending out mobile units to keep their networks up.