Telecommunications companies must pay a percentage of their interstate end-user revenues to the Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes telephone service to low-income households and high-cost rural areas. This percentage is called the contribution factor, which is updated four times a year and is increased or decreased depending on the needs of the Universal Service programs.

This is to alert you that the FCC’s Universal Service Administrative Company has implemented another hike in the quarterly contribution factor for the Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF). The contribution factor for first quarter 2021 is 0.318 or 31.8 percent. Such increases will push monthly consumer and business phone bills higher.

Looking for new ways to reduce your telecom expenses? Contact CTS today: 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Mitel surveyed more than 750 North American SMBs and shared insights about the business and technology impact of COVID-19 and the outlook for SMBs amid the evolving crisis.

Although the majority said they have been negatively impacted, one-third have accelerated their adoption of technology solutions due to the pandemic, and 40% are maintaining investments at their previously planned levels. Only one in four are tightening their technology purse strings.

This underscores just how essential technology is to growing businesses, especially as they tune into new customer preferences, behaviors and expectations.

1. Adding “no-touch” payments

2. Creating virtual service offerings to replace physical ones

3. Increasing use of digital sales channels

4. Renegotiating vendor contracts

5. Developing new products and services

SMBs that have accelerated their technology adoption and investments are 36% more likely to forecast that their revenues will rise over the next 6 months than SMBs that decelerated their plans. SMBs that hit the brakes are 66% more likely to forecast sliding revenues.

For assistance with your technology planning, CTS offers a full portfolio of communications systems and apps that can help you overcome your challenges to grow your business. Contact us today at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

When it comes to communications and collaboration, the world’s fastest moving businesses choose the company that gives them choices. Mitel’s flexible, easy-to-use cloud solutions have made it the choice of nearly 4.7 million users worldwide.

Here are four reasons why businesses choose Mitel over any other communications vendor, particularly for their business VoIP/UCaaS needs:

Mitel has put together A Small Business Guide to VoIP Business Phones to help you maintain efficiency as you build, grow and scale your business.

Need more reasons to go with CTS and Mitel? Contact us today: 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

When it comes to selecting communications tools, your options can be categorized as either real-time (synchronous) or asynchronous, and deciding on the best option is based on your business objectives.

When it comes to real-time interaction between two or more people, synchronous communication tools are the best choice. The options are:

When real-time interaction is not required between two or more people and information can be shared without requiring immediate responses, the options include:

Make sure your team has all the communication tools it needs to support your business objectives. Contact CTS today at 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Cloud Voice services, designed and deployed by your local CTS experts, can transform the way you do business. We’ll help you plan and implement the perfect rollout, so you can enjoy faster ROI and increase user adoption from Day One.

All-in-one Voice services like Beacon Cloud Voice and MiCloud Connect can improve your customer service quality, increase on-the-go staff productivity, and in many cases, reduce operating costs.

For businesses in the Mid Atlantic region, CTS offers a path for getting more out of cloud voice in terms of greater:

Contact us today: 800.787.4848 or jnolte@ctsmd.us.

Know someone who needs more mobility tools? Is grappling with a Hybrid Workforce? Is moving or looking for a new phone system? A friend who needs faster broadband or Wi-Fi? A business partner who wants to add Video Meeting tools?

Tell us about it... Just mention, "Newsletter Referral Program" when you make the referral - 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.