News You Can Use: FCC to vote on new rules to further protect consumers from illegal and unwanted calls and texts 

If adopted by a vote of the full Commission at its September 26 Open Meeting, the new rules will bolster current FCC rules on blocking and robocall mitigation in several key areas.

Consumers want an all-hands-on-deck approach to block annoying robocalls and robotexts. As technologies change, the FCC is expected to identify innovative methods to block this junk - including proposing new ways for carriers to cut off these unwanted calls and texts before they ever reach your phone.

The Commission will also vote to expand communications blocked under do-not-originate lists. Among other consumer protections, these new rules would also step up the FCC’s enforcement efforts, including creating new financial penalties for carriers who fail to protect consumers from illegal calls.

Check out the FCC press release here

We’ll continue to keep you informed on emerging FCC news. Need help with your business communications? Contact CTS today at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

FCC to regulate AI-generated Telephone Calls – and the Courts will need to balance Protection and Privacy 

The FCC has a proposal working itself through its rulemaking process with the following goals: 

• Define AI-generated calls.

• Require callers to disclose their use of AI-generated calls and text messages.

• Support technologies that alert and protect consumers from unwanted and illegal AI robocalls.  

• Protect positive uses of AI to help people with disabilities utilize the telephone networks. 

Learn more about the proposed FCC rules here

What Considerations will the Courts need to weigh?

The courts have sought to balance the right to privacy with the needs of law enforcement, but new technologies and government surveillance practices are continually testing this balance. 

The proliferation of surveillance technologies, such as drones, facial recognition, and advanced data analytics, continues to test the boundaries of constitutional protections. The challenge lies in ensuring that these technologies do not infringe upon the privacy rights guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment while allowing law enforcement to perform their duties effectively.

Privacy Considerations – The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, which has been interpreted to include protections for electronic communications. Any system to detect AI calls would need to be carefully designed to avoid infringing on callers' and recipients' reasonable expectations of privacy.

Legal Challenges – The FCC's proposal could face legal challenges based on Fourth Amendment grounds:

• Warrantless Surveillance: Detecting AI calls without a warrant may be seen as a form of search, potentially violating Fourth Amendment protections.

• Data Collection: Gathering data on call content or patterns to identify AI calls could be considered a "search" under recent Supreme Court rulings like Carpenter v. United States.

Balancing Interests – Courts would likely need to balance privacy rights against the government's interest in preventing fraud and protecting consumers. The "reasonable expectation of privacy" standard established in Katz v. United States would be crucial in determining the constitutionality of AI call detection.

Technological Considerations – The specific technology used for detection could have Fourth Amendment implications. Less invasive methods that don't analyze call content may be more likely to withstand constitutional scrutiny.

Where are we headed? – As AI technology evolves, expect the courts to reassess how the Fourth Amendment applies to new communication and surveillance tools and be prepared for new legal standards applied to privacy in telecommunications.

We’ll keep you informed on related regulatory developments. Questions? Call 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Recording and Documenting Your Calls for Compliance & Better Customer Service  

Today’s call recording solutions support single-site workgroups and multiple locations with advanced features allowing you to monitor all calls or record on-demand. Recordings are stored anywhere you choose. You also have access to several useful features…

• Search and retrieve calls for playback
• Attach to email, link to CRM records, and more
• Assign access rights to individuals and groups
• View the real-time status of users

Your organization may need to comply with just some of these regulations:

• HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
• PCI-DSS: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard 
• Financial Services Authority
• FDCPA: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 
• SOX: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 

For businesses that need to record voice transactions, service calls, and other conversations as part of meeting their compliance obligations, simply add a call recording capability to your phone system.

Just some of the benefits…

• Better customer service
• Timely training
• Dispute resolution
• Tracking down information for customers
• Isolating critical aspects of each conversation

Learn more about how call recording solutions can help you organize and improve your business communications. Contact us today: 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

3 Ways to Prepare for Your Future Workforce

As Gen Z and Gen Alpha begin their careers, organizations must develop strategies to set them up for success. 

• Gen Z typically includes those born from 1995 to 2010. 
• Gen Alpha includes those born from 2010 to 2024.

While both generations are shaped by technology, Gen Z is characterized by their formative years in the early internet age, leading to a strong sense of social responsibility and global awareness. In contrast, Gen Alpha is emerging in an era of advanced digital integration, with unique challenges and opportunities as they grow up in an increasingly connected world.

To attract these younger generations, take advantage of their unique strengths, and turn them into a sophisticated, productive workforce, organizations should take these three steps:

1. Embrace Flexible Work Arrangements

Gen Z and Alpha prioritize work-life balance and autonomy in their professional lives. To attract and retain these young talents, businesses should:

• Offer flexible schedules that accommodate personal needs

• Implement remote or hybrid work models

• Provide opportunities for in-person collaboration and mentorship to balance digital interactions

2. Leverage Cutting-Edge Digital Tools and AI

Having grown up in a digital-first world, Gen Z and Alpha expect seamless technological integration in their work environment. Companies should:

• Invest in comprehensive unified communications and collaboration platforms

• Incorporate AI capabilities to enhance productivity and decision-making

• Implement features like calendar integration, document management, and text-to-speech functionality

3. Foster a Purpose-Driven Work Culture

Younger generations seek more than just a paycheck; they want their work to have meaning and a positive social impact. To engage Gen Z and Alpha, companies should:

• Clearly communicate the organization's mission and values

• Provide opportunities for employees to contribute to socially responsible initiatives

• Create a workplace culture that emphasizes purpose and meaningful contributions

Tech Savvy and Ready to Get to Work

You can better prepare your new team members for successful careers and future-proof your operations by embracing the tools and approaches that play to the younger generations’ skills and values.

CTS designs, deploys, and supports communications and technology that will connect your newest employees. Contact us today at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Reach Your People… 8 Capabilities you need in a Mass Notification Solution 

In today's fast-paced world, the safety and security of our people, facilities, and venues are more important than ever. During emergencies, effective communication is essential.

Whether managing a stadium, convention center, campus, or multi-tenant building, having a reliable mass notification solution to reach an audience quickly is crucial. 

Check out the key attributes to consider when choosing the right solution for your organization:

1. Reach Audiences with Multi-Channel and Geographic Support – Mass notification and broadcast systems should support a variety of channels to increase the chances of successful delivery, including SMS, email, voice calls, mobile app notifications, social media, and even integration with digital signage or sirens. The ability to narrow the broadcast to a targeted location or precise group is also essential.

2. Customize Messages and Manage Recipients – Look for a system that allows the creation and customization of messages quickly, with pre-defined templates for different types of notifications. Ensure that messages are clear, concise, and relevant. Manage recipient lists by importing and updating contacts, creating and managing groups, and integrating with existing contact databases.

3. Two-Way Communication and Integration Capabilities – Some situations require feedback from recipients or the ability to establish two-way communication. The right system lets admins choose this feature, allowing for the gathering of responses or additional information from recipients. Integrating the mass notification system with other business tools and systems further enhances functionality and efficiency.

4. Ensure Effective Alert Escalation – An effective system should support alert escalation. It should automatically retry delivery through different channels or escalate the alert to higher levels of management if initial attempts fail.

5. Enhance Safety and Security with Location-Based Services – If relevant, the system should support location-based services. This feature can pinpoint the current location of individuals, which is especially useful for safety and security notifications.

6. Track and Improve Communication with Analytics and UI – Robust reporting and analytics features can help track the effectiveness of notifications, monitor delivery rates, and make data-driven improvements to communication strategies. In high-pressure situations, ease of use is paramount. Look for a system with a user-friendly and intuitive interface for quick message deployment.

7. Prioritize Security and Compliance – Contribute to establishing compliance with relevant security and privacy regulations with features like encryption, access controls, and audit trails to protect sensitive information.

8. Mobile Accessibility and Notification History – The system should offer mobile access for administrators and recipients. This allows for remote management and notification receipt, ensuring connectedness regardless of location. A mass notification system should allow users to learn from past events with notification history. Recording past notifications and their outcomes is helpful for auditing and review purposes, helping improve emergency responses.

Your local CTS team designs, deploys, and supports customized broadcast and mass notification solutions. Keep your staff and visitors well-informed and secure. Call CTS today at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Tech Tax Break… Act Now to Leverage Your 2024 Section 179 Deduction 

This year’s Section 179 deduction is $1,220,000. The deduction includes both new and used qualified equipment. In addition, businesses can take advantage of 100% bonus depreciation on both new and used equipment for 2024.

Remember to keep delivery times in mind when making your Section 179 purchases for 2024.

The deduction applies to both leased and purchased equipment and software. When you buy, you can deduct the total amount from your taxes. When you lease, you pay the monthly lease payments, but you still get to deduct the total purchase price from your taxes.

Whether you choose to purchase or lease, you'll need to put the equipment/software into service by the end of the day on December 31, 2024.

For more details visit: Section 179 and check out this handy Savings Calculator.

Let’s talk about how new technology can help you reach your goals in 2024. Contact us today at: 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Get $250 Extra Cash… We Want Your Referrals!

Know someone grappling with their Remote or Hybrid Workforce? Moving or looking for a new phone system? A friend who needs faster Wi-Fi or broadband? A business partner who wants to add Sound Masking or Video Meeting tools?

Tell us about it... Just mention the "Newsletter Referral Program" when you contact us – we'll take care of the rest. CTS rewards you with $250 when we get their business. And there's no paperwork hassle or hoops to jump through.

Contact us with your sales tip at: 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.