Switching Between AT&T and Spectrum for Business Internet & Voice: What to Know (and an Option 3)
Switching business Internet and voice providers can feel intimidating. Whether you’re moving from AT&T to Spectrum or Spectrum to AT&T, it’s important to understand the pros, cons, costs, and potential savings. As a local authorized agent for both providers, Caliber Solves IT helps Ellis County businesses navigate these choices every day. Here’s what to know.
1) What’s Involved in Switching
Evaluate your contract
AT&T Business Fiber (ABF) is often marketed with no annual contract, but terms can vary. We recommend confirming with AT&T. Many customers choose to sign a Letter of Agency (LOA) with Caliber, and our team confirms your exact terms for you.
Spectrum Business Broadband (cable) is frequently month-to-month in many markets, but a 30-day notice is commonly required. Confirm your account documents.
AT&T Dedicated Internet (ADI) and many Spectrum Enterprise services typically require at least 30 days’ notice and may include early termination fees if you’re mid-term. These are enterprise-grade dedicated fiber options with SLAs.
Plan for installation and cutover
Both providers will schedule installation, which may involve new cabling, equipment, configuration, and IP addressing. Coordinate with your IT provider or our team to map what’s specific to your site.
Keep your numbers
In most cases, you can port existing phone numbers, but it requires coordination and lead time.
Consider a temporary overlap
Many businesses keep both services active for a short period to avoid downtime. Budget for up to one month of overlap.
2) Advantages of Switching to Spectrum from AT&T
Aggressive promotions: New-customer discounts, waived install, or Internet + Voice bundles are common.
Cable footprint: In some areas, Spectrum may be the only cable provider offering higher speeds than legacy copper/DSL.
Flexibility: After the initial term (if any), many Spectrum Business broadband services move month-to-month.
Growth option: Spectrum Enterprise Fiber is available in Ellis County and can scale as needs grow.
3) Advantages of Switching to AT&T from Spectrum
Fiber reliability & symmetry: AT&T Business Fiber generally offers symmetric speeds—great for backups, VoIP, and cloud workflows.
Strong satisfaction signals: AT&T Fiber frequently performs well in industry satisfaction studies.
Scalability: AT&T Dedicated Internet (ADI) provides enterprise-grade SLAs for uptime and performance.
4) Disadvantages / Challenges
Spectrum → AT&T
Install timelines can be longer—especially if fiber construction is needed.
Availability: ABF is still expanding in parts of Ellis County; not all sites will qualify. ADI is widely available but may be more expensive than most businesses need.
Support perceptions vary: Some customers report service/support frustrations. (Experiences differ by market and product.)
Contract risk: If you’re under a Spectrum term agreement, ETFs may apply. (This typically doesn’t apply to month-to-month Spectrum Business broadband.)
AT&T → Spectrum
Asymmetric speeds on cable: Upload speeds are usually lower than fiber.
Example: Spectrum 500×20 vs. AT&T Fiber 100×100.
Promo roll-offs: Rates can increase after promotional periods. (We’ll outline all expected charges up front so there are no surprises.)
5) Costs to Expect
Early Termination Fees (ETFs) if you leave mid-term.
Install/activation fees (often waived via promos; otherwise commonly $99–$300).
Overlap month during cutover.
Equipment: Modem/router leases or upgrades as needed.
6) Will I Save Money?
Often—if you switch strategically.
AT&T and Spectrum routinely run competitive promotions.
Many businesses save 10–30% or get higher speeds for similar cost by comparing side-by-side.
The key is having a local, neutral advisor (like Caliber) compare apples to apples.
7) Beyond AT&T and Spectrum: Exploring 3rd-Party Providers
AT&T and Spectrum aren’t the only options. A growing set of third-party providers wholesale Internet and voice and layer on:
Managed IT services (monitoring, support)
Business-grade firewalls & managed cybersecurity
Wireless failover/backup for continuity
Cloud VoIP/UCaaS with mobility and collaboration
8) Why This Matters
By moving beyond a “big-box” approach, businesses can:
Bundle value-adds (security, backup, support) into connectivity spend
Consolidate vendors under a single point of contact
Maximize value—often paying the same or less than AT&T/Spectrum alone, with more included
9) A Better Solution for the Same Spend
Because Caliber works with hundreds of providers, we can show you AT&T vs. Spectrum and best-fit alternatives that may let you:
Add managed services
Enhance firewall/cybersecurity
Ensure wireless backup continuity
—while staying within today’s budget
Conclusion
Switching between AT&T and Spectrum can absolutely lead to savings and performance improvements—but sometimes the best solution is to step outside both and look at third-party options. With the right strategy, you can add managed service, stronger security, and backup protection—for the same or less than you’re paying now.
Caliber Solves IT brings all options to the table and guides you to the right choice—at no cost to you (providers pay us).
Ready to explore? Book a Free Bill Review & Solution Consultation below.
Choosing the Right Hosted VoIP Provider for Your School District: A Practical Comparison
School districts today face a critical decision: how to modernize communications in a way that improves safety, reliability, and cost efficiency without disrupting day-to-day learning. Legacy PBX and first-generation UCaaS solutions often lack the flexibility or integrations schools need, pushing leaders to evaluate the top hosted VoIP providers.
Below is a look at three leading solutions trusted by education and government organizations — Zoom, RingCentral, and GoTo — and how they compare against other providers in the market.
Zoom: Familiarity and Ease of Adoption
Zoom has become a household name in education thanks to its video-first platform. For K-12 districts, Zoom Phone offers:
Seamless integration with Zoom Meetings and Zoom Rooms already in use.
Simple user experience for staff, teachers, and parents who are already comfortable with the platform.
Competitive pricing for districts that want to extend their existing Zoom investment to voice.
Emergency notification support through integrations with tools like Singlewire InformaCast, enabling mass alerts across phones, desktops, and mobile devices.
Where other providers can feel clunky and harder to use, Zoom’s biggest strength is its familiarity and ease of adoption.
RingCentral: Enterprise-Grade Reliability with Education-Friendly Features
RingCentral stands out as one of the most comprehensive cloud communications platforms available. For districts, this means:
Advanced safety features like Dynamic E911 and mass-notification integrations to improve emergency response.
Notification applications through integrations with Singlewire InformaCast, Intrado Revolution, Valcom, and AtlasIED, delivering instant lockdown or evacuation messages across phones, intercoms, and speakers.
Robust compliance posture, supporting FERPA, COPPA, and government security requirements.
Scalability across campuses, from a single elementary school to a large district with multiple sites.
Extensive integrations with Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, and popular paging/intercom systems.
Where other providers may struggle with compliance gaps, limited integrations, or scaling beyond a handful of campuses, RingCentral delivers proven enterprise-grade reliability.
GoTo: Simplicity and Cost-Effectiveness
GoTo Connect is built for districts that want an all-in-one solution that’s easy to manage and budget-friendly. Highlights include:
Straightforward deployment that minimizes IT overhead.
Emergency notification integrations with Singlewire InformaCast and other paging solutions, ensuring that critical messages reach classrooms and common areas instantly.
Flexible pricing that makes it accessible for small to mid-sized districts.
Where other providers may push complex licensing models or high service costs, GoTo’s value is its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
The Bottom Line
When evaluating hosted VoIP, districts should look closely at:
Safety features (E911, notifications, integrations with intercom/paging).
Ease of use for teachers, staff, and parents.
Compliance and security (FERPA, COPPA, government-level standards).
Scalability and support as district needs evolve.
Total cost of ownership, not just licensing.
Other providers may check some of these boxes but often lack the complete package — whether that’s ease of use, advanced safety, compliance, or affordability. Zoom, RingCentral, and GoTo stand out because they’re proven in education and adaptable to the real-world challenges districts face.
Why Partner with Caliber Voice & Data?
At Caliber Voice & Data, we represent all three of these leading providers — Zoom, RingCentral, and GoTo — and we also offer premise-based voice solutions for districts where that model is still the best fit.
We act as a trusted advisor, giving districts a consultant-like experience at no cost. Here’s how we help:
Cooperative purchasing and pricing that speeds procurement and maximizes budget dollars.
Guidance throughout the buying process, helping leaders compare options with confidence.
Ongoing support after deployment, including account management, billing assistance, and escalation support when issues arise.
With Caliber, you’re not just choosing a technology — you’re gaining a long-term partner focused on student safety, staff productivity, and financial stewardship.
👉 If your district is ready to explore the next step in communications, we’d love to walk you through the options and share examples from peer districts.