As an aside;

The airliner I was flying today lost communications with Kansas City Center. We realized this when we attempted to request a different altitude and received no response.

We attempted to raise the center on the emergency frequency but were unsuccessful. We were able to contact a company aircraft on this frequency and they were able to relay our request for a valid frequency to their sector controller.

After we had re-established contact with the center I asked them why we had not been able to contact them on the emergency frequency.

ARTCC's response: "We don't have the capability to monitor VHF guard in western Kansas. The nearest monitoring station is well behind you."

The FAA has no responsibilities here whatsoever. They make and enforce the rules and are never wrong.