A Multiservice Access Concentrator (MAC) provides a time limit for a first ringing voltage signal in response to an attempted call. The call is attempted via a voice over packet-data-network system (VOPS), wherein the VOPS comprises voice over Internet Protocol (IP), voice over Frame Relay, voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), and voice over High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) network systems. Generation of the first ringing voltage signal is terminated upon expiration of the time limit. A control message is transmitted to terminate the attempted call, wherein the control message is transmitted via the VOPS.