PRI Prices are Skyrocketing (up to $1,500/mo). Here’s How to Beat the Shocking Price Hikes

Imagine receiving a notice from your phone carrier that your rate is increasing from $90/month to $1,500 or more – starting next week.

Unfortunately, that’s an all-too-common scenario as carriers continue to decommission traditional analog copper phone lines. Also known as Plain-Old Telephone Service (POTS), these analog lines are the backbone of the PRI and T1 service many businesses rely on.

If your business uses traditional analog lines but hasn’t received a price increase notice yet, you will undoubtedly receive it soon.

The good news is you can beat the shocking price hikes by switching to SIP or a hosted cloud phone system – but you must act fast. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The FCC mandated that all POTS lines in the U.S. be replaced with an alternative service by August 2022

  • In response having to maintain increasingly expensive copper phone lines and telephone pole infrastructure for a dwindling number of customers, major carriers have been dropping support and raising prices dramatically – sometimes doubling or tripling per-line costs – often with very little notice

  • There are two ways to beat the price hikes: upgrade to SIP (to keep your on-premise phone system) or move to a hosted cloud system

  • It’s critical to act now. If you wait too long and your carrier gives little notice, there won’t be enough time to port or keep your phone numbers before the price increase goes into effect

Your Cady technology advisor is on standby to help you beat the price hikes. We’ll work with you to determine the most cost-effective solution for your unique business needs. Get your free consultation today.


Cady Business Technologies is proud to be a Mitel Gold Partner.

Our strong relationship with Mitel over many years allows us to offer the reliability and expertise your Mitel solution requires.

Contact us today to help create a plan that will support your business needs and budget.

The True Cost of E911 Noncompliance: A $40 Million Tragedy

The FCC lists fines for E911 compliance violations, but civil lawsuits can prove far more financially devastating.

How much do you think an E911 compliance violation could cost your organization? $500? $5,000? $50,000?

Try $40 million – or more.

While the FCC outlines fines for E911 violations, the true cost of noncompliance is potential tragedy and a wrongful death judgment that could easily put most companies out of business.

Yet many organizations – including businesses, hospitals, schools, municipalities, and event venues – unknowingly fail to comply with Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act, the federal regulations that govern E911 for multi-line telephone systems (MLTS). Moreover, some schools are noncompliant with Alyssa’s Law, a relatively new statute adopted by six U.S. states.

Here, we offer an overview of the E911 laws and the true cost of noncompliance, plus explain how to ensure your organization is compliant to prevent devastating outcomes.

Consult our Compliance Experts

Cady’s technology advisors are well-versed in the E911 laws and how to automate compliance with communications technology. Prevent tragedy and avoid costly penalties – schedule your free consultation today

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Summary

  • E911 violations can carry fines of up to $10,000 plus $500 per day, per device

  • Wrongful death lawsuits are costlier. Jurors in one case awarded a family more than $40 million. Another case was settled for $8 million

  • Organizations must prioritize compliance with Kari’s Law, RAY BAUM’s Act, and Alyssa’s Law (for schools) to prevent tragedy, reputational damage, expensive fines, and devastating lawsuits

Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act

The FCC has two major E911 mandates for organizations with multi-line telephone systems: Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act

Kari’s Law

The law was named after Kari Hunt, who was murdered by her estranged husband in a Texas hotel room in 2013. Kari’s nine-year-old daughter attempted multiple 911 calls but couldn’t get through because she didn’t know the phone system required an access code to reach an outbound line.

Kari’s Law states that multi-line telephone systems must:

  • Support direct dialing 911 (no access codes such as “9”)

  • Notify a central on-site location OR an off-site location where someone is likely to see it

  • Relay a callback number

  • Relay caller location information

RAY BAUM’s Act

RAY BAUM’s Act mandates that all phones send accurate, dispatchable location information to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), including enhanced location identifiers such as building, floor, wing, and room number.

Related: How Telecom Makes Employees Safer

Penalties for Kari’s Law and/or RAY BAUM’s Act Noncompliance

FCC Fines

The Code of Federal Regulations outlines fines of up to $10,000 plus $500 per day, per device, for violating Kari’s Law and/or RAY BAUM’s Act. However, those fines aren’t fixed, and actual penalties could vary on a case-by-case basis. 

Civil Lawsuits

More severe penalties can come in the form of civil lawsuits. In 2018, a jury awarded Kari Hunt’s family $41.55 million in a wrongful death suit that claimed the hotel was negligent for delaying emergency response.

It’s important to understand that this was before the E911 laws were enacted, which means the hotel was technically compliant with existing laws and a jury still found it liable. Now, with E911 laws in effect, it’s not difficult to imagine a jury awarding a greater sum if an organization were found noncompliant.

In July 2022, a six-year-old boy drowned in a pool at a St. Louis County, Missouri summer camp. The county had recently upgraded its phones, but E911 wasn’t provisioned correctly, and the 911 call was routed to a special call center in Colorado, delaying emergency response. The boy’s family filed a $40 million wrongful death suit against the county, and the suit was settled for $8 million in July 2023.

These cases underscore the fact that FCC penalties, while significant, pale in comparison to the financial impact of a wrongful death suit for E911 noncompliance. 

Related: The New 911 Laws: What You Need to Know

Alyssa’s Law

Though it’s not a federal regulation (yet), Alyssa’s Law has been passed in six U.S. states:

  • New Jersey

  • Florida

  • New York

  • Texas

  • Tennessee

  • Utah

Legislation has also been introduced in multiple federal bills and ten additional states:

  • Nebraska

  • Arizona

  • Virginia

  • Oregon

  • Georgia

  • Michigan

  • Massachusetts

  • Pennsylvania

  • Oklahoma

  • Alabama

The exact requirements vary by state, but generally mandate that schools incorporate or consider incorporating the following:

  • Silent panic buttons installed in K-12 schools

  • Panic buttons must instantly notify PSAPs and on-site personnel (such as school administrators and resource officers)

  • In some states, silent panic buttons must be mobile (worn by teachers and staff)

Related: Phone Systems for Education

Penalties for Alyssa’s Law Noncompliance

Like the regulations, penalties vary by state, but could include:

  • Loss of state funding: For example, New Jersey schools must comply with Alyssa’s Law to be eligible for security grants

  • State intervention: States could require schools to develop compliance plans or subject them to additional oversight

In addition to state-issued penalties, precedents set by E911 wrongful death cases suggest that school districts could face similar lawsuits if noncompliance delayed response during an emergency event.

Related: Why Schools Need Silent Panic Buttons

How to Ensure E911 Compliance

E911 compliance is critical for all organizations with multi-line telephone systems, including businesses, schools, municipalities, event venues, and hospitals. These resources can help. 

Provisioning phone systems for compliance can be a complex process, but with the right technologies, you can automate compliance to prevent tragedy, reputational damage, fines, and devastating lawsuits. Speak with a Cady technology advisor for a free compliance assessment today.

Healthcare Contact Centers: Modernizing Your Solution

How to harness the power of automation & Al in your contact center

Contact center automation is the next frontier in business communications. Though automation isn’t a new concept, the advent of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing serves as the catalyst for a radical shift in how companies deploy customer service and support call center agents – ultimately promising better business outcomes.

However, contact center automation isn’t without challenges. It’s crucial to take a strategic approach if you’re to achieve meaningful results. The following lists the latest content center automation trends and details how to truly harness the power of automation in your contact center.

Automation is no longer a luxury but a necessity if your business is to deliver an exceptional (and competitive customer experience – but it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. Your Cady technology advisor can help you choose the right automation technologies for your unique business needs.

get a free CONSULTATION

Summary

Modern contact centers employ technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotic process automation to deliver exceptional customer experiences, support call center agents, and drive meaningful business outcomes through:

  1. Ultra-intelligent chatbots and virtual agents
  2. Automated call and appointment scheduling
  3. Rich personalization
  4. Marketing automation
  5. Predictive assistance
  6. Single pane of glass
  7. Automated compliance

What is Contact Center Automation?

Contact center automation means leveraging technologies to automate routine tasks, including:

  • Artificial intelligence (Al)
  • Machine learning (ML)
  • Natural language processing (NLP)
  • Robotic process automation

But automation is about more than just elimination manual processes. it’s about expanding capabilities and empowering both customers and agents.

If you’re struggling with poor customer satisfaction scores and frustrated agents, can’t keep up with call volume, or you’re dealing with infficiencies, contact center automatino could be the solution you need.

Aging Business Phone Systems: Maintain, Upgrade, or Replace?

How to harness the power of automation & Al in your contact center

Contact center automation is the next frontier in business communications. Though automation isn’t a new concept, the advent of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing serves as the catalyst for a radical shift in how companies deploy customer service and support call center agents – ultimately promising better business outcomes.

However, contact center automation isn’t without challenges. It’s crucial to take a strategic approach if you’re to achieve meaningful results. The following lists the latest content center automation trends and details how to truly harness the power of automation in your contact center.

Automation is no longer a luxury but a necessity if your business is to deliver an exceptional (and competitive customer experience – but it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. Your Cady technology advisor can help you choose the right automation technologies for your unique business needs.

get a free CONSULTATION

Summary

Modern contact centers employ technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotic process automation to deliver exceptional customer experiences, support call center agents, and drive meaningful business outcomes through:

  1. Ultra-intelligent chatbots and virtual agents
  2. Automated call and appointment scheduling
  3. Rich personalization
  4. Marketing automation
  5. Predictive assistance
  6. Single pane of glass
  7. Automated compliance

What is Contact Center Automation?

Contact center automation means leveraging technologies to automate routine tasks, including:

  • Artificial intelligence (Al)
  • Machine learning (ML)
  • Natural language processing (NLP)
  • Robotic process automation

But automation is about more than just elimination manual processes. it’s about expanding capabilities and empowering both customers and agents.

If you’re struggling with poor customer satisfaction scores and frustrated agents, can’t keep up with call volume, or you’re dealing with infficiencies, contact center automatino could be the solution you need.

Debunking Cloud Phone System Myths: A Comprehensive Analysis

Communication technology plays a pivotal role in the success of any business. As companies contemplate transitioning from traditional on-premise phone systems to cloud-based alternatives, several myths often deter them from leveraging the full potential of such an upgrade.

This comprehensive guide aims to dispel these misconceptions and shed light on the true capabilities of cloud phone systems.

Myth 1: The Cloud Isn’t Safe or Secure

Data security is at the heart of any organization. Concerns around safety are understandable, given the responsibility that businesses bear to protect customer and patient data. However, the real risk lies not in migrating to the cloud but in maintaining the status quo.

Contrary to popular belief, cloud phone systems offer robust security features. World-class cloud providers incorporate security measures that most individual companies would find challenging to implement independently.

These include identity and access control, zero-trust environments, data encryption in transit, use, and rest, automated threat detection, incident response and recovery, firewall protection, PCI, HIPAA, ISO, and FedRAMP compliance, 24/7 monitoring, and physical data center security.

Major brands across various industries, such as finance, education, healthcare, aerospace, government, manufacturing, retail, and military, trust these services. Organizations like PayPal, Twitter, UPS, Equifax, The Home Depot, Cardinal Health, Major League Baseball, Goldman Sachs, New York City Cyber Command, Disney, Samsung, Verizon, and The University of Chicago all rely on cloud services provided by Amazon and Google.

When vetting cloud solutions with the same scrutiny applied to in-house security, they can provide greater security and survivability than anything installed in an on-premise phone closet. Look for providers who offer a well-documented Service Level Agreement (SLA), uptime guarantees, a threat mitigation strategy, and documented processes for problem resolution, notifications, and maintenance.

Myth 2: The Cloud is Not Reliable

Many businesses fear that by moving to the cloud, they will be at the mercy of their internet service provider’s reliability. However, this myth no longer holds true with advances in technology and the widespread availability of high-speed internet. Cloud providers often have multiple data centers in different geographic locations, ensuring redundancy and minimizing the risk of service disruptions.

In addition, cloud phone systems come with built-in failover and disaster recovery mechanisms. In the event of a power outage or other emergency, calls can be automatically rerouted to backup devices or alternative numbers. This ensures that businesses never miss important calls from clients or customers.

Myth 3: The Cloud is Too Expensive

The perceived high cost of cloud phone systems is another common myth that deters businesses. The perceived high cost of cloud phone systems is another common myth that deters businesses. While this may have been the case in the early days of cloud technology, it is no longer valid. Cloud solutions offer significant cost savings over traditional phone systems.

For starters, there are no upfront costs for hardware and equipment. Companies also save on maintenance and installation fees, as the provider handles these tasks. Additionally, cloud phone systems often come with flexible pricing options that allow businesses to scale up or down as needed without investing in new infrastructure.

Moreover, cloud phone systems come with advanced features that can increase productivity and efficiency, leading to cost savings in the long run. Features such as automated attendants, call routing, call recording and analytics, voicemail-to-email transcription, and integration with other business applications can improve communication processes and reduce the need for additional tools and services.

Myth 4: You’ll Lose Control Over Your Phone System

There’s a common fear that transitioning to the cloud means surrendering control over your phone system. However, cloud phone systems actually offer more control and flexibility. They allow for omnichannel communications and remote access, improving operational efficiency and productivity.

Cady Business Technologies, for instance, offers both on-premise and cloud phone systems. Whether your business requires a traditional on-premise system or a cloud-based alternative, Cady ensures your communication infrastructure is customized to your needs and performs at its peak. They also offer seamless contact center solutions enabling phone, email, text, chat, and social media communication.

Conclusion

In today’s digital era, sticking with what has always worked may put companies at a competitive disadvantage. Adopting modern technology like cloud phone systems can future-proof communications and equip businesses with the tools they need to compete effectively.

By debunking these myths, we hope to facilitate the decision-making process for businesses contemplating a move to the cloud.

FAQs

Q: Are cloud phone systems as secure as on-premise systems?

A: Yes, cloud phone systems provided by reputable vendors often offer superior security features compared to traditional on-premise systems.

Q: Is migrating to a cloud phone system expensive?

A: While there might be initial costs involved in moving to the cloud, cloud systems often prove to be more cost-effective due to lower maintenance costs and scalable pricing models.

Q: Will I lose control over my phone system if I move to the cloud?

A: No, cloud phone systems actually offer more control and flexibility. They allow for omnichannel communications and remote access, enhancing operational efficiency and productivity.

Q: Can I trust cloud phone systems with sensitive data?

A: Yes, world-class cloud providers incorporate robust security measures, including data encryption, threat detection, and compliance with various security standards.

Q: Is it risky to switch to a cloud phone system?

A: Switching to the cloud shifts risk to the provider. The provider assumes responsibility for fulfilling the Service Level Agreement (SLA), including mitigating potential cyberattacks.


Cady Business Technologies is proud to be a Mitel Gold Partner.

Our strong relationship with Mitel over many years allows us to offer the reliability and expertise your Mitel solution requires.

Contact us today to help create a plan that will support your business needs and budget.

Why Your Business Needs a Contact Center: The Ultimate Guide to Improved Customer Satisfaction, Employee Retention, and Operational Efficiency

Companies of all sizes need to understand the power of contact centers. Gone are the days when this technology was solely accessible to large enterprises. Now, even small and medium-sized businesses can reap the benefits. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the pivotal role contact centers play in enhancing customer satisfaction, improving employee retention, and boosting operational efficiency.

Choosing Between Buying and Renting Your Business Phone System: Key Considerations and Tips

Deciding whether to buy or rent your phone system is a crucial choice. Your decision can have a lasting impact on your company’s finances and operations. This comprehensive blog series will walk you through the critical factors to consider when choosing between buying and renting a phone system for your business.

7 Contact Center Automation Trends for Better Communications

How to harness the power of automation & AI in your contact center

Contact center automation is the next frontier in business communications. Though automation isn’t a new concept, the advent of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing serves as the catalyst for a radical shift in how companies deploy customer service and support call center agents – ultimately promising better business outcomes.

However, contact center automation isn’t without challenges. It’s crucial to take a strategic approach if you’re to achieve meaningful results. The following lists the latest content center automation trends and details how to truly harness the power of automation in your contact center.

Cady Customer Spotlight: Ted Botten Agency

Ted Botten is devoted to protecting his clients by helping them choose the right health insurance plans for themselves, their families, and their employees. His commitment to client care even extends to his agency’s phone system. Here’s why Ted Botten Agency turned to Cady for secure communications, CMS Medicare-compliant call recording, and HIPAA-compliant encrypted fax – and how they streamlined remote work in the process.

Secure, Compliant Call Recording and Transcription

Now in their 34th year, Ted Botten Agency provides health insurance plans (including Medicare, dental, and vision) to more than 4,000 clients from their Saint Louis Park, Minnesota location.

The agency needed to upgrade its phone system when the new CMS Medicare call recording requirements went into effect in October 2022.
The rules mandate that insurance agents and brokers who sell Medicare supplemental insurance must record phone calls with beneficiaries for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, and they must securely store those recordings for ten years.

Cady was there to help. We replaced Ted Botten Agency’s traditional phone system with a cloud hosted system that automates compliance. Their new system automatically records only the types of calls required by law, ensuring compliance while protecting client privacy.

The call recording service securely stores recordings on the cloud for ten (or more) years, allowing Ted Botten Agency to retrieve the recordings if needed.

“Cady gave me the ability to record in the cloud,” says agency owner Ted Botten. “That’s important because the government changed the rules. Anyone who wants to have a phone appointment to review Medicare policies we have to record.”

The new phone system also automatically transcribes calls, which helps Ted Botten Agency manage callers during its busiest times.

“A big thing we use in the office is the transcription part of the service. Based on the way my business is run, during a really heavy fourth quarter, we might have 100 or 200 calls per day,” Ted says. “We have transcriptions of who we’re going to call so we have documentation of everything. We can divvy up who needs to call whom based on transcription documents before we receive phone calls. The transcription was really a plus, it’s a great thing.”

Encrypted Fax

Secure faxing is vital to the insurance industry, so Cady implemented encrypted faxing to prevent Protected Health Information (PHI) from being intercepted during transmission. An encrypted fax system also helps Ted Botten Agency maintain HIPAA compliance.

“We still fax, and Cady gave us the ability to encrypt faxing, which we did not have before,” Ted says. “The HIPAA privacy law says anything with any person’s data, such as ID numbers, birthdays, and addresses, can’t be sent over public airways, and everything we do is about data privacy. We protect that at all costs, so that’s why encrypted faxing is so important.”

Seamless Remote Communications

Ted Botten Agency went from a standard phone system to a cloud-based unified communication solution. The easy-to-use system allows Ted’s employees to work in the office – and anywhere in the world with a softphone and Internet connection.

The new system also solved a problem with remote work inefficiencies, enabling Ted’s employees to work seamlessly from home.

“Before, we would have a person working remote at her house, but she couldn’t forward anything,” Ted says. “This gives her the ability to have her own line and work from home yet still be tied to the office, which is great. The flexibility of the system is so important for us. We can be working remotely or in the office and not miss a step.”

Business Texting

Cady also provided Ted Botten Agency with business texting services, which routes SMS messages through a business line and enables agency employees to send and receive client texts without disclosing their personal phone numbers.

“We now have the ability to have people text us. We didn’t want to give out personal phone numbers for texts, but this is tied to the main number so people can text us,” Ted says.

Personalized Service and White Glove Support

Ted says he is most impressed with Cady’s professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to customer service.

“We went from a ‘dummy’ phone system to a very capable phone system, but we didn’t know how to use it. They walked us through everything and taught us how to use it,” Ted says. “The few times that we’ve needed the customer service team, we called the local telephone number, and we got answers and solutions within a few minutes. Not too many places can fix what you need fixed on your time frame, which is immediate, which was great.”

Ted adds that Cady has helped him not only modernize his agency’s communications for today, but also keep an eye on the future to remain competitive tomorrow.

“I’ve had conversations with my team from Cady about terms of contracts and what we need to do to upgrade,” he says. “Everything has been laid out in front of me so I can make an educated decision. This is my 34th year of being self-employed, and I’ve always had to make all the decisions about the phone system myself. With Cady, I don’t have to worry about it, and I don’t have to guess at anything.”

What advice would Ted offer to those considering Cady?

“If you want a one-stop shop that you can trust and hand over all responsibility to take care of your phone system, meaning you don’t have to worry about it, Cady is the place,” he says.

Reliable, secure communications and white glove service are crucial to Ted Botten Agency’s success. Cady is proud to be their partner and to ensure communications remain a strength for their team and a differentiator for their business.