Business Phone Questions and Answers

Where is CFU phone service available?

Service is offered at nearly all locations within the city limits of Cedar Falls. It's also available for some (but not all) CFU electric customers who live outside the city limits. 
 

When can I get CFU phone service?

Service is now available for businesses of all sizes. To get connected, call 319-268-5283.

For businesses with more than eight phone lines, please call our commercial services manager at 319-268-5226, or email us.

What is the price of FiberNet Phone service?

Prices are here for businesses & organizations with up to eight phone lines. Larger businesses should contact us for a quote at 319-268-5226. 
 

What fees and taxes are added FiberNet Phone service bills?

Fees and taxes for FiberNet business phone plans are shown here

In addition, CFU must include the Federal Universal Service Charge on business phone bills that include long distance. This government mandated program is designed to help keep local telephone service rates affordable for all customers, in all areas of the United States. The fund also provides schools, libraries, low-income customers and rural health care providers with assistance in obtaining telecommunications services. The contribution factor changes quarterly based on the needs of the federal universal service fund. 

Do I need special equipment or a particular type of phone with CFU phone service?

Any telephone that plugs into a phone jack will work with FiberNet Phone. If your office phones plug into ethernet connections, we will do a needs assessment prior to quoting Enterprise phone service for your business. Site specific factors will determine whether you can keep using your current office phones. 

Can I call 911?

Yes, emergency 911 calling is included with FiberNet Phone.

How is CFU phone service delivered?

FiberNet Phone uses the same fiber optic network that delivers CFU internet and TV services. The fiber service terminal located inside or outside your home has phone ports that are used to connect the phone wiring inside your house to our network. The phone ports are separate from the internet and TV service on your terminal.  
 

If my internet service is out will my phone service work?

Usually if your internet service is not working, your phone service will also be out. 

If my power is out will my phone service work?

We recommend that all business customers consider whether a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) device should be part of their telephone system. For customers with one or two phone lines CFU offers optional battery back-up in your ONT (fiber terminal). This will keep your phone service working for several hours during a power outage, provided you use a phone that plugs into a phone jack only with no separate power cord.
 

Will my number be in the phone book?

Yes. Your number will be in the Dex and Hibu directories for Waterloo/Cedar Falls unless you request an unpublished number.

Can I advertise in the phone book?

Yes. You can place advertising just as you do now, by contacting a representative for the Dex and/or Hibu directories. CFU will not be involved in directory advertising.
 

How do I get an unpublished number?

Request this at the time we install your service. There is a $10 set-up charge and a monthly fee of $3 for unpublished numbers.

What countries are included in the long distance calling area for business phone plans?

The United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cominica, the Cominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks & Caicos.

Calls to the countries listed above are billed at 5 cents per minute with the Local Talk Plan, and are included with the Local Talk Plus (200 long distance minutes) and Total Talk (1,200 long distance minutes) plans.

Calls to other countries will be billed at prevailing rates for all service plans.

What calling features come with my service?

These features come with Local Talk Plus & Total Talk business phone plans:

Caller ID  Displays the incoming caller's name and/or number. To enable this feature you must use a telephone capable of displaying Caller ID information.

Voice Mail  If you don't answer, the caller hears a recording that prompts him to leave a message. Retrieve the messages by pressing *86. 

Call Forwarding  Send calls to another number while you are away, and back to your business phone when you return.

Call Screening  Reject incoming calls from a list of up to 13 numbers. When a call comes in from one of these numbers, the caller hears a message that says the party they're calling is not accepting calls at this time.

Reject Anonymous Calls  Some callers block their identity, so your caller ID displays "private" or "anonymous" when they call. This feature enables you to reject unidentified calls. Callers with blocked identity hear a message that says you do not accept anonymous calls, and they should unblock their line and call again in order to reach you. 

Speed Call 8  This convenience feature lets you assign two-digit codes for up to eight frequently-called numbers. To place a call to a speed number, just press the two-digit code on your phone keypad.  

Call Waiting  If a second call comes in while you're on the phone, you'll hear a tone to let you know that a call is waiting. You can switch over to the second call while keeping the first call on hold if you want.

Call Waiting ID  If a second call comes in while you're on the phone, your phone's display will show the identity of the second caller.

Three Way Calling  Add a third party to a call. You can either talk privately with the third party or use the conference feature so that all parties on the call can converse with each other. 

Continuous Redial  If you get a busy signal when you place a call, this feature will continuously redial the busy number every 60 seconds for half an hour. A distinctive ring will alert you when the call goes through. If the call can't be connected within 30 minutes this feature will time out. 

Last Call Return  This feature allows you to hear the number of the last incoming call, regardless of whether the call was answered. Press 1 to place a call to that number. If the redialed number is busy, Continuous Redial will be activated. 

Dual Ring  Set up a business phone number to ring two different phones, which can include a mobile phone.

Circular Hunt  Incoming calls will ring a successive list of phone numbers until answered. 

Learn more about the Total Talk business phone plan

• $54.99/month
• Unlimited local calling, with your choice of Calling Features at no extra cost.
• 1200 minutes of long distance calling to North America is included. Additional minutes billed at 5 cents each.
• Calls to international numbers outside of North America will be billed at cost.
• Taxes and fees added to your bill will probably be lower with CFU than your current provider. Our taxes and fees are estimated here.  Does your current provider fully disclose its fees? Transparent pricing is part of our Power of Service Promise.
• Hard copy or paperless billing available.

Learn more about the Local Talk Plusbusiness phone plan

• $43.99/month
• Unlimited local calling, with your choice of Calling Features at no extra cost.
• 200 minutes of long distance calling to North America. Additional minutes billed at 5 cents each.
• Calls to international numbers outside of North America will be billed at cost.
• Taxes and fees added to your bill will probably be lower with CFU than your current provider. Our taxes and fees are estimated here. Does your current provider fully disclose its fees? Transparent pricing is part of our Power of Service Promise.
• Hard copy or paperless billing available.

Learn more about the Local Talk business phone plan

• $36.99/month
• Unlimited local calling
• No calling features are included and features cannot be added to this plan. Add additional lines for $26.99 or a fax/alarm line for $23.99.
• Long distance calling to North America is billed at 5 cents/minute. Or add 200 minutes of long distance for just $6.95 when you choose the Basic Talk Plus option.
• Calls to international numbers outside of North America will be billed at cost.
• Taxes and fees added to your bill will probably be lower with CFU than your current provider. Our taxes and fees are estimated here. Does your current provider fully disclose its fees? Transparent pricing is part of our Power of Service Promise.
• Hard copy or paperless billing available.