ðə sɪmplˈɪsᵻɾi ʌv tˈɛlᵻɡɹˌæf ɐlˈɑːɹm bˈɑːksᵻz ænd ðɛɹ ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪɾᵻd nˈɛtwɜːks mˈiːnz ðæt ðeɪ ɑːɹ ˈeɪbəl tʊ ˈɑːpɚɹˌeɪt ˌʌndɚ kəndˈɪʃənz sˈʌtʃ ɐz ɐ lˈɛŋθi ɔːɹ wˈaɪdspɹɛd pˈaʊɚɹ ˈaʊɾɪdʒ, ɐ nˈætʃɚɹəl dɪzˈæstɚ, ɔːɹ ˌɛni ɪmˈɜːdʒənsi kˈɔːzɪŋ mˈɛni pˈiːpəl tʊ ɐtˈɛmpt tə kˈɑːntækt ˈʌðɚz sˌaɪməltˈeɪniəsli wˌɪtʃ mˈeɪ dɪsɹˈʌpt ɔːɹ dˌɪsˈeɪbəl ˈʌðɚ kəmjˌuːnɪkˈeɪʃən sˈɪstəmz sˈʌtʃ ɐz lˈændlaɪn fˈoʊnz, sˈɛljʊlɚ fˈoʊnz, ænd ɪmˈɜːdʒənsi sˈɜːvɪsᵻz ɹˈeɪdɪˌoʊ sˈɪstəmz.
The simplicity of telegraph alarm boxes and their associated networks means that they are able to operate under conditions (such as a lengthy or widespread power outage, a natural disaster, or any emergency causing many people to attempt to contact others simultaneously) which may disrupt or disable other communication systems such as landline phones, cellular phones, and emergency services' radio systems.