Remember the weather has been the problem here...not what the climbers have or have not.Yes; this explains the dearth of info/contact with the climbers. /sarc
(Your post sounded more like a 'govermnent dispatch' too BTW; I think we know all that already.)
THIS kind of communcations "black hole" should NOT be happening in the 2006 where someone can buy a GPS-equipped FRS radio that will show you THE POSITION of another party on an LCD display and doesn't require 30 thousand dollar cell sites that may not give coverage in some out-of-the-way canyon that the climbers may be trapped in ...
I certainly agree people should prepare themselves if the proper equipment for the scenarios they are putting themselves in.
We will have to see when this all over whether they had that gear or not...all I can post is what I read or hear.
Even if they knew where they were today looks like the first day that they would be able to get to them...
I think I will pick up one of those radios just the same could be handy someday.
Three words: Personal Locator Beacon. Less then $500 and WILL save your life.