Home Phone Questions and Answers
Where can I find the service plans and prices for CFU phone service?
Residential plans and prices are here. Business plans and prices are here.
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 available now for residential customers at most Cedar Falls locations. To get connected, call 319-268-5283.
Can I keep the phone number I have now?
Yes, as long as it's a local number. A local number has a 319 area code, and the first three digits are 266, 268, 273, 277, 553 or 859.
What is the price of FiberNet Phone service?
See residential service plans and prices here. Information about business telephone plans is here. Compare CFU's prices to CenturyLink here.
What fees and taxes are added to FiberNet Phone service bills?
Fees and taxes for Local Talk and Total Talk plans are shown here. In addition, a $5 Rural Network Fee will be added for phone customers outside the city limits of Cedar Falls who do not have FiberNet internet service.
Do I need special equipment or a particular type of phone with CFU phone service?
FiberNet Phone is a landline service. Any telephone that plugs into a phone jack will work with FiberNet Phone. If you want to see who is calling before you answer, then choose a telephone capable of displaying Caller ID information. You do not need to supply or rent any equipment other than your telephone(s).
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 offer an optional battery backup that will keep your phone jacks active during a power outage. This requires use of a telephone that plugs into a phone jack ONLY, with no separate power cord. Keep service active for eight hours for $3/month or 24 hours for $5 month. To request a battery backup, please call 319-268-5283.
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.
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 residential 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? download features guide
These features come with Local Talk & Total Talk home 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 home phone when you return.
Selective Call Rejection (or 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.
These additional features come with the Total Talk plan:
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.