News You Can Use: Verizon Ends Legacy Services like PRI, T1, POTS, and TDM services

Verizon is officially phasing out legacy services like PRI, Digital T1, and analog POTS lines, sending shockwaves through businesses and public sector clients reliant on these technologies. This transition marks the end of an era for TDM-based services in favor of modern IP-based communications. Decision makers must act now to avoid service disruptions and steep price increases.

Key Points to Note:

• Verizon stopped accepting new orders for PRI, T1, and POTS as of September 1, 2025.

• As of November 1, 2025, Verizon has started to physically withdraw these legacy services.

• Continued use of these services can result in significant price hikes and eventual disconnection. Some of our clients have reported that their bills are set to double!

Why You Should Take Action Now:

• Legacy services are expensive to maintain and lack scalability and security.

• Migrating to IP-based network solutions offers enhanced capabilities, better collaboration, and future-proofing.

• Early transition avoids price shocks and downtime associated with forced cutoffs.

If your organization still relies on legacy PRI, T1, or POTS, don’t wait for the cutoff. Let's discuss your options and ensure a seamless migration. Contact CTS at 800.878.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

CTS Recognized by Anne Arundel County for Community Impact

On Wednesday, October 22, CTS welcomed representatives from the Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) to our offices.

The group, which included AA County Government Chief Administrative Officer Christine Anderson, spent time learning more about how CTS supports local businesses and contributes to the county’s growing tech sector.

During the visit, we proudly received a citation from AAEDC recognizing our 40 years of dedication to innovation, customer service, and community partnership.

This citation means a great deal to us because it reflects the relationships we have built with our customers, neighbors, and local leaders. Every installation, every solution, and every partnership is part of our larger effort to strengthen our community and move technology forward in Anne Arundel County.

A Deep Dive into Mass Notification & Paging for Schools

Discover smarter safety broadcasts tailored for schools.

Timely, reliable communication is the backbone of school safety and daily operations. Today’s educational environments face new challenges in keeping students, staff, and families informed – whether for daily updates or critical emergencies. 

Valcom’s advanced mass notification and paging solutions, expertly implemented by CTS, empower schools to act quickly and communicate clearly in any situation.

Why Valcom Platforms Stands Out

• Provides ease of use with robust, customized scheduling for bells and daily announcements

• Enables instant mass notifications to every classroom, staff member, or administrator

• Facilitates direct paging and two-way communication during drills or emergencies

• Includes SMS/email alerts for parents and guardians

Alyssa’s Law and similar legislation demand faster and more coordinated emergency communication in schools. 

With integrated systems from Valcom, schools can trigger alerts for lockdowns, medical situations, weather emergencies, or evacuations in seconds – reaching everyone who needs to be informed. Automated messaging keeps routine information flowing, minimizing confusion and missed updates throughout the busiest school days.

Integration and Ease of Use

• Works with existing networks – no need to overhaul your entire infrastructure

• User-friendly software enables administrators to update schedules and send alerts from anywhere

• Flexible, scalable solutions fit individual schools or multi-campus districts

• CTS, as your local technology partner, offers school systems decades of experience with deployment, training, and ongoing support. 

Schools that modernize their bell and notification system experience a significant reduction in response time during fire drills and streamlined communication for schedule changes, resulting in better engagement and reduced anxiety for the entire campus community.

Take action for safer, smarter schools. Schedule a CTS school system safety and paging consultation today.

Contact CTS at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Never Miss a Word: How AI Transcription & Smart Notes Can Improve Your Team’s Productivity

The Hidden Costs of Outdated Cabling & Wi-Fi Networks

Modern networks help your business avoid costly downtime.

Most business leaders know the frustration of unreliable communications and dropped connections. But few realize how often these problems stem from aging cabling and networking hardware.

Small inefficiencies can cost much more than a quick upgrade – leading to lost productivity, unhappy customers, and mounting maintenance bills.

Signs of Trouble

• Ongoing call drops, choppy VoIP, or video lag

• Intermittent network outages or congestion that interrupt workflow

• Growing repair expenses for old or badly terminated cabling

• Security vulnerabilities created by outdated hardware

CTS delivers Dependable Connectivity

• Professional site assessments to diagnose current weaknesses

• Enterprise-grade wireless, switching, and routing solutions

• Structured cabling designed for flexibility and growth

• Ongoing managed services for monitoring and rapid response

Why invest in modern infrastructure?

• Savings and stability - avoid costly, unexpected repairs

• Reduce downtime and protect business continuity

• Present a reliable, professional image to customers

• Keep pace with cloud applications, unified communications, and future growth

• Simplify support – CTS’s certified engineers are always ready to help

Don’t wait for the next outage or expensive emergency fix. Schedule a network infrastructure assessment with CTS today.

Contact CTS today at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Transform your Contact Center Staffing with AI

Today’s distributed workforce requires smarter tools to optimize your staffing, reduce costs, and improve customer experiences.

RingCentral’s acquisition of CommunityWFM is bringing powerful AI-enabled workforce management features to contact centers – and CTS is here to help you unlock WFM's full value.

Workforce Management Features include:

• AI-driven forecasting for staffing needs based on historical patterns and real-time data

• Automated schedule creation, shift swaps, and attendance tracking

• Analytics that reveal service gaps and opportunities for improvement

• Seamless integration with phones, UC solutions, and contact center platforms

The Business Case for WFM

• Prevents costly overstaffing or understaffing

• Increases agent satisfaction and retention by balancing coverage and workloads

• Improves customer service metrics by aligning capacity with demand

• Reduces management effort, which provides more time for strategic projects and planning

CTS is your RingCentral Gold Partner, trusted for contact center deployment, customization, and support.

For organizations with fast-paced contact centers or blended work environments, CTS’s experts can deploy AI-powered workforce tools that work seamlessly from Day One – without creating new silos or data headaches.

Integrating WFM can improve your staffing forecasts, reduce overtime, and raise customer satisfaction scores. Ready for a workforce built for peak efficiency and optimal service?

Schedule a demo of RingCentral’s workforce management tools today. Contact CTS at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

We're Thankful for You! Get $250 for the Upcoming Holidays

Know someone who is looking for an AI-enabled phone system? Grappling with a Hybrid workforce? Is moving their office? A friend who needs faster, more affordable broadband or Wi-Fi? A business partner who wants to add Sound Masking to their space?

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.

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