Certified Cabling Installers

Outdated Cabling Is Hurting Your Business

Slow connections. Messy wiring closets. Constant tech headaches. Sound familiar? If so, your old cabling setup might be the hidden problem—and it could be costing you thousands in lost productivity, missed calls, and network outage.

That’s why structured cabling isn’t just about running wires. It’s a smart investment in the long-term performance of your business. With the right installation, you get a high-speed, reliable, and scalable network that powers everything from cloud apps to VoIP to security systems—without constant disruptions.

Whether you’re expanding, retrofitting, or building out a new space in Kansas City, here’s what you need to know to get it done right the first time.

What Does Structured Cabling Installation Involve?

Structured cabling installation is the systematic design, integration, installation, and certification of a unified cabling infrastructure that supports all business-critical services—data networking, VoIP, video conferencing, building access control, and security systems—within a commercial or enterprise environment.

Outdated point-to-point wiring systems

To understand the benefits, consider this: UnlikeUnlike old-school point-to-point wiring that turns into a tangled mess over time, structured cabling follows industry standards like ANSI/TIA-568 and BICSI. That means your network isn’t just faster—it’s cleaner, easier to manage, and built to grow with your business.

A Properly Executed Structured Cabling Installation Includes:

1. First Comprehensive Network Assessment

To start, before installation begins, a certified technician will conduct a full audit of your current infrastructure, including:

• Cable routes and existing access points

• Network bottlenecks and failure points

• Environmental factors (EMF interference, HVAC, ceiling heights, etc.)

• Future bandwidth requirements based on growth plans and tech roadmaps

2. Next Standards-Based Design & Engineering

A structured design will:

• Use star topology to centralize distribution

• Integrate copper (Cat6, Cat6a) and fiber backbones as needed

• Map to telecommunications rooms (TRs) and intermediate distribution frames (IDFs)

• Support zoning, redundancy, and disaster recovery

Plus, the design phase looks ahead by building in support for next-gen tech like Wi-Fi 6/6E, PoE, and IoT, so your network is ready for what’s next.

3. Then A High-Performance Cable Installation

Towner’s certified installers follow strict physical layer practices:

• Proper bend radius, conduit fill, and cable separation to reduce interference

• High-clarity terminations using punch-down tools, patch panels, and keystone jacks

• Precision labeling to support rapid troubleshooting and change management

4. After That, Testing, Certification & Documentation

Every cable is tested and certified using Fluke Networks or equivalent tools to ensure:

• End-to-end continuity

• Signal loss within acceptable dB thresholds

• Crosstalk (NEXT/PSNEXT) and return loss performance

Once the structured cabling installation is complete, clients receive detailed documentation covering all tested cable runs, labeling, performance metrics, and network diagrams. This includes:

• Cable test reports

• Rack layouts and labeling maps

• Warranty paperwork and cable schedule

5. Finally, Post-Install Support and Maintenance Planning

To keep things running smoothly long after installation, Towner includes a structured maintenance plan that helps your IT team:

• Track ports, cable usage, and future capacity

• Identify hot zones and plan cooling or spacing enhancements

• Schedule preventive checks and infrastructure reviews annually or semi-annually

Why It Matters: A well-designed structured cabling installation can reduce IT operating costs by up to 30%, lower network downtime, and increase the lifespan of physical infrastructure by 15–20 years.

Why Kansas City Businesses Need Certified Cabling Installers

When it comes to structured cabling, cutting corners leads to expensive consequences: unstable connections, unexplained outages, network slowdowns, and security risks. Many Kansas City businesses inherit outdated, tangled, or mislabeled cabling systems from previous vendors—leaving internal IT teams to troubleshoot chaos instead of focus on strategic growth.

A properly installed structured cabling system isn’t just neater—it’s engineered for performance, compliance, and longevity. That’s why professional installation by certified experts is critical.

The High Cost of Poor Cabling

Without proper design and certification:

• Cables are often run too close to electrical lines, causing signal interference (EMI/RFI).

• Cable bends, improper support, or tight conduit pulls can damage shielding and reduce performance.

• Patch panels and terminations are inconsistently labeled, increasing MTTR (Mean Time to Repair).

• Legacy Cat5 or substandard copper runs throttle bandwidth and crash under modern traffic loads.

According to Cisco, every minute of network downtime can cost a business an average of $5,600.

Benefits of Hiring Certified Professionals

Choosing certified structured cabling installers—especially those who follow TIA/EIA-568 standards and hold BICSI credentials—means:

• Standards-Based Installation
  Adheres to ANSI/TIA-568, BICSI-002, and NEC guidelines for safety, performance, and scalability.

• Precision Routing & Management
  Proper cable separation, support, bend radius, and pathway planning prevent interference and physical degradation.

• Advanced Labeling & Documentation
  Each drop, panel, and pathway is clearly labeled and documented in as-built diagrams for ongoing maintenance.

• Fluke-Verified Certification
  Post-installation testing with tools like the Fluke DSX-8000 ensures every cable passes signal, length, and attenuation benchmarks.

• Future-Proofing for Growth
  Installs are designed for emerging demands like Wi-Fi 6, VoIP, PoE, and 10G+ networking.

Local Expertise Matters in Kansas City

Building codes, historic structures, older construction materials, and even HVAC layouts vary widely across Kansas City’s neighborhoods—from the Crossroads to Lee’s Summit to Westport. National installers often overlook these nuances, leading to project delays or failed inspections.

Towner Communications has been solving these challenges for over 75 years, giving us unmatched insight into:

• Local permitting timelines

• Common retrofit issues in older buildings

• Environmental challenges (e.g., dropped ceilings, exposed HVAC, concrete walls)

• Compliance with Missouri and Kansas low-voltage licensing laws

Expert Insight: “We’ve seen too many Kansas City companies lose productivity because their cabling wasn’t done right. A professional installation pays for itself many times over.” – Dennis Summers Lead Technician Instructor, Towner Communications

The 6 Essential Components of a Structured Cabling System

Structured cabling systems are built on a standardized framework defined by ANSI/TIA-568 and BICSI best practices. Every business-class installation—whether in a small office or multi-floor enterprise—relies on six core components working in unison to deliver speed, scalability, and stability.

1. Horizontal Cabling

This is the physical cabling that connects individual user devices—desktops, printers, VoIP phones, etc.—to a nearby telecommunications room (TR) on the same floor.

• Typically runs through ceiling spaces, walls, or under raised flooring.

• Uses high-performance twisted-pair copper cabling (Cat6 or Cat6a).

• Includes patch cords, work area outlets, and permanent links.

Use Case: Enables seamless workstation connectivity with low latency and minimal crosstalk—crucial for business applications like video conferencing and cloud-based productivity tools.

2. Backbone (Vertical) Cabling

Backbone cabling connects different floors, departments, or even buildings within a campus environment.

• Often deployed as fiber optic cable (OM3, OM4, or OS2) for long distances and high bandwidth.

• Terminates at main cross-connects (MCs), intermediate cross-connects (ICs), and horizontal cross-connects (HCs).

• Supports massive data loads across switching layers.

Use Case: Ideal for linking a 3-floor office or an HQ to its adjacent warehouse, supporting high-speed data replication and centralized server access.

3. Entrance Facilities

This is where external service providers—ISPs, telephone companies, and fiber providers—interface with your internal structured cabling system.

• Houses demarcation points, protection devices, and transition hardware.

• Must be securely isolated from internal IT equipment and shielded from weather/electrical interference.

• Often connected to the main distribution frame (MDF) in the main telecom room.

Use Case: Establishes a clean, secure transition from public internet lines to your private business network—ensuring stability and regulatory compliance.

4. Consolidation Points (CPs)

These are optional, mid-run interconnection zones that allow flexible expansion and reconfiguration without disturbing the entire cable route.

• Common in open office plans, modular furniture layouts, or healthcare environments.

• Used to support zone cabling strategies—enabling faster MACs (Moves, Adds, and Changes).

Use Case: Lets your IT team add or relocate desks in a flexible workspace without pulling new cable from the telecom room each time.

5. Telecommunications Enclosures (TEs)

Telecom closets or IDFs contain the active and passive network components needed to manage and distribute structured cabling.

• Hosts patch panels, network switches, cable managers, grounding equipment, and UPS units.

• Should follow strict design guidelines for ventilation, accessibility, and expansion room.

Use Case: A cleanly organized telecom enclosure supports faster diagnostics, safer power management, and future equipment upgrades with minimal disruption.

6. Work Area Components

These are the connection points between your structured cabling system and the end-user device.

• Includes patch cords, faceplates, jacks, adapters, and device connectors.

• Should be color-coded and labeled to reduce confusion and increase troubleshooting speed.

Use Case: Enables employees to simply plug in their devices and get reliable connectivity—without needing IT involvement for every setup.

Pro Tip: Proper labeling and cable management can reduce troubleshooting time by up to 40%. BICSI best practices