KCDC Modernizes Emergency Communications with RCN’s POTS Link
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has managed public housing and development projects across the City of Knoxville dating as far back as the early 1930s. With aging infrastructure and hundreds of legacy POTS lines supporting essential systems like elevators, alarms, and voice services, Eric Bellamy and his team needed a modern, reliable replacement that wouldn’t disrupt operations.
In 2020, KCDC selected RCN Technologies’ POTS Link service as the cornerstone for this transition.
The Challenge
Aging Lines, Elevator Failures & Looming Sunset Deadlines
Eric’s first major issue hit a high-rise building.
“We had an issue at one of our properties with the elevator lines. The lines were so old they couldn’t
be replaced easily. Once an elevator emergency line goes out, it gets noticed fast.”
Their infrastructure spanned hundreds of analog lines with many running through buildings nearly a century old. Replacement meant navigating long cable runs across multiple floors, brittle wiring, and tight budgets.
At the same time, Eric saw the writing on the wall as carriers pushed POTS into retirement.
“We knew a few years ago that we were getting close to those lines starting to sunset… and now they are pushing hard to get people off them”
The risk was clear: operational interruptions, safety exposure, compliance concerns, and rising carrier costs
Why KCDC Chose RCN
Local partnership and proven reliability were the differentiators.
“You guys were local, which meant we didn’t have to go through a lot of hoops if we needed something fixed or needed quick service.”
“You also had a good reputation. That goes a long way for us.”
A trusted vendor relationship mattered deeply. KCDC prefers long-term relationships with partners who respond quickly, communicate clearly, and don’t treat customers as dollar signs.
Deployment
Smooth, Quick, and Future-Proof
Eric started with a proof-of-concept on their elevator lines. Installation and onboarding went cleanly.
“If I remember correctly, it went pretty smooth. Once we got a solution in place and saw how it worked, we moved forward with using it across the board.”
With the first deployment successful, Eric began phasing POTS Link into all of KCDC’s remaining elevator lines, using it as the backbone for modernization.
Results
Quiet, Reliable, and Off the Analog Grid
When it comes to emergency systems, “quiet” is a good thing.
“If it works, that’s all you care about. And once you put it in place, you prefer it to stay quiet. That’s been our experience.”
The transition also helped eliminate KCDC’s dependence on problematic legacy systems.
“We’re down to one more line before we completely shut our old Centrix system down. That’ll be a headache we don’t have to deal with anymore.”
What If They Hadn’t
Switched?
“We would have had to switch eventually. Whether we’d have had the same level of success or the relationship we have with you guys… I doubt it.”
Not About Cutting Cost—About Eliminating Risk
Because KCDC’s old Centrix lines hadn’t yet seen rate increases, the value wasn’t in monthly savings—it was in modernization and reliability.
“For us, it wasn’t about savings. It was about modernizing what was out there and maintaining reliability. Your equipment is rated for emergency lines, and that mattered.”
This shift insulated KCDC from the skyrocketing POTS prices happening nationwide:
“I’ve talked with other entities where their POTS costs went from $20 a month to hundreds. Some are seeing $800 per line. One in California is paying $1,800 for a single line.”
The Bottom Line
KCDC successfully modernized its emergency communications by replacing aging, unreliable POTS lines with RCN’s POTS Link.
The service delivered:
- Reliable elevator and alarm connectivity
- Quick installation and minimal disruption
- Local, responsive support
- A trusted partner relationship
- A clean exit from AT&T’s failing copper network
- Long-term modernization and compliance peace of mind
For KCDC, POTS Link wasn’t about saving dollars—it was about eliminating risk and future-proofing safety infrastructure.
Advice to Other School Districts on Cooper POTS Lines
When asked what he would tell another district still relying on traditional analog phone lines, Tim didn’t hesitate
“Get rid of them. I’ve wanted to for years. I’m glad we finally moved off”
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