[feralchimp]

Or the communications requirements of Earth's population would need to change in such a way that communicating through miles of planet becomes our most practical option.

For example, nuclear/EMP attacks kill all the comm satellites and force what's left of humanity deep underground...where luckily some superpower or three has tucked away big particle accelerators in addition to MREs.

Or perhaps off-planet, trying to send messages to mining operators, or through asteroid fields...work with me here.