Small Businesses See Sunny Skies | 2018 Small Business Trends

8/15/2018

Small business owners’ optimism touched a 35-year high last month, with businesses setting records in terms of job creation and hiring, while also being able to increase prices.

In July, the NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index marked its second highest level in the survey’s 45-year history, at 107.9 – just shy of the July 1983 record-high of 108.

23 percent of businesses are planning to create new jobs, while 37 percent of business owners said they had job openings that they could not fill in July.
35 percent of owners expect better business conditions, while they said the availability of qualified workers was their No. 1 problem.
59 percent of firms were hiring or trying to hire, while 52 percent (88 percent of those hiring or trying to hire) reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.
Twenty-three percent of owners said their biggest business problem was finding qualified workers.

Are you starting a business? Find out if you're using the right telecommunications systems by connecting with a broker.

Comments

Save Money on Telecommunications Services - Telecom Audit

8/15/2018

Comments

aAs the end of the year approaches, you are most likely justifying your expenditures and evaluating your sales projections for 2019. Are you confident that your current technology will support your goals? We can assist you by completing an analysis of your business and an audit of your telecommunications invoices.

Professional telecom audits analyze your current telecom environment, including things like: peak calling times; Internet, wireless and VoIP usage and charges; long distance, local and roaming charges; current tariff charges and more.

From saving money to identifying potential pit falls, a telecom audit can benefit your company in many ways.
Identify peak call times so you can respond with more staff for improved customer experience.
Catch possible phone abuse or toll fraud quickly.
Gain a better understanding of your telecom needs so you can allocate expenses accordingly.
Get an overview of system usage to show which trunks are being over- or under-utilized.
Examine extension/employee productivity to improve performance.

Because Simplified Communications agents have years of telecom experience, our experts will review your business goals and make a recommendation for the services that will assist you in meeting your needs; including but not limited to voice, data and mobile services. For more information, contact a Simplified Communications agent.

To find out more about how an audit can benefit you, contact Simplified Communications today.

Comments

New Net Neutrality Bill Introduced | 21st Century Internet Act

8/15/2018

Comments

Rather than a set of rules that can be changed regularly by the FCC, Congress may soon vote on a new bill that would set net neutrality down as a matter of law. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) recently introduces the “21st Century Internet Act,” which would ban blocking, throttling and paid prioritization, while eliminating all questions of jurisdiction.

The bill would modify the Communications Act of 1934 (greatly built upon by the 1996 Telecommunications Act) and add new stipulations specific to internet providers. Rather than debating whether the FCC has authority to write the rules or not, and then quibbling over the rules themselves, the act codifies the rules as law and sets the FCC as the official watchdog.

"The fight to keep the internet open belongs in Congress, not at the Federal Communications Commission"

"The fight to keep the internet open belongs in Congress, not at the Federal Communications Commission," he said in a statement. "The American people deserve to know that their elected officials, not unelected bureaucrats, are fighting for their interest. That fight begins with my bill, which will create an ‘internet constitution’ with the foundational elements of net neutrality."

IN short, the bill would put to rest the question of whether the FCC wants to have net neutrality rules or not — net neutrality would be the law and it would be the Commission’s job to enforce it.

Some are praising the bill, including Vimeo and the National Association of Realtors. Critics believe broadband providers will oppose the bill saying they've pledged to follow the rules voluntarily.

We will continue to monitor the bill. Subscribe to our newsletters to learn more.

Comments

Stay connected with the latest technology.

Small Businesses See Sunny Skies | 2018 Small Business Trends

Save Money on Telecommunications Services - Telecom Audit

New Net Neutrality Bill Introduced | 21st Century Internet Act

See if we service your location!

Browse
Articles

​Stay connected with the latest technology.

Small Businesses See Sunny Skies | 2018 Small Business Trends

Save Money on Telecommunications Services - Telecom Audit

New Net Neutrality Bill Introduced | 21st Century Internet Act

​See if we service your location!

Browse​Articles

Stay connected with the latest technology.

See if we service your location!

Browse
Articles