jseal - It depends on the communication channel. In this instance there are many concurrent channels. Assume for the sake of simplicity that all the active channels have the same bandwidth. Some have much higher information content than others. Those channels with high information content are more sensitive to noise degradation than those which don't.

Actually, the usefulness of the messaging system as a whole becomes inversely proportional to the total system noise at high noise levels.

Can't stay tonight - gotta go.

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