What about old analog TVs without any attached digital gizmos. Could they ever be used as an alternate communication system?
I don't see how, but perhaps you may want to ask backwoods-engineer if he can think of anything.
Funny thing is, I still have one of the last Zenith glass-picture tube TV's to roll off the line in Melrose Park, IL (not terribly far from where I live) and about all it gets used for anymore is a tertiary game console display when my sons and nephew's are going to war playing Battlefield Bad Company II ....