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What is the Blackboard Connect service?
The Blackboard Connect service allows authorized civic
leaders to create and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive
messages to every telephone number stored in the
notification database. With the Blackboard Connect
service, authorized users can send thousands of messages
in minutes. Only authorized officials are allowed
access to the system.
How does the service work?
Authorized officials compose and record a voice and text
message. That message is then delivered to individual
telephones, cell phones, and text-receiving devices in
the notification database.
What types of messages will be sent using the service?
Any message regarding the safety or welfare of our
community would be disseminated using the Blackboard
Connect service. Examples include severe weather
warnings and updates, hazardous traffic or road
conditions inside the town or affecting local routes,
and any other situation that could impact the safety,
property, or welfare of our citizens. Information
concerning non-routine public meetings, changes to
sanitation routes, and generally other important news
will be disseminated as well.
Does the Blackboard Connect
service replace other systems that have been used to
provide time-sensitive information to residents?
This system is a significant enhancement to existing
means of communication and is supplemental to, not a
replacement for, the systems we have used in the past.
The call-in emergency information line (252) 481-5844,
which is activated during an emergency situation, will
still be available. Also, TV, radio and our town web
site will continue to broadcast important announcements.
Is my telephone number included in the notification
database?
It is our intention and hope that every residence and
commercial facility in our community be included in the
notification database. For businesses, we only store
one main phone number. For residents, we may have more
than one number that belongs to you in the database.
Additionally, you may request to have a secondary number
be entered into our database for priority calling.
May I use a cell phone as my notification database
listing?
Yes, we can accept cell phones as secondary phone
numbers in the database and encourage you to request
that your number be included.
What precautions are being taken to protect personal
information?
Blackboard Connect takes security and privacy concerns
very seriously and does not sell, trade, lease or loan
any data about our clients to any third party. From a
technical perspective, we utilize multiple physical and
virtual layers of firewalls to maintain data security.
Blackboard Connect only utilizes secure
transmissions with its customers. No confidential
information is ever transmitted between Blackboard
Connect and its customers using e-mail or FTP,
but rather always utilizes either a VPN tunnel or SSL.
Data is hosted in state-of-the-art facilities which
require photo identification, thumb-print recognition,
keyed access, and are manned 24/7 with full-security
personnel. All data is encrypted prior to being placed
on tape for offsite storage. Blackboard Connect also
retains an external, independent security firm to
perform annual security audits.
Will there be a way to positively identify incoming
calls that are made by the town using the system?
The caller-ID number for calls generated by the
Blackboard Connect service will be: (252)
481-5817. In addition, every message will begin
with the same standard announcement: “Hello, this is
______ calling with an important message from the Town
of Ayden.” The message content will follow this
standard introduction.
Will the Blackboard Connect service work if I have a
call screening system on my phone?
There are several varieties of call screening devices
that use differing protocols for screening. In general,
the system has been found to work with these devices;
but some may require some type of pre-programming to
allow our town’s telephone number to pass through. We
may conduct periodic test to assure that messages are
being delivered to numbers in the notification database.
If I am a non-resident home or condominium owner, what
phone should be listed in the notification database?
For non-residents or owners who reside out of our town,
you may provide an additional phone number to be
included in our database to contact during certain
situations. In general, calls are sent to the primary
number only, but we also have the ability to call
multiple numbers for each resident or business when
requested by the resident or business. Please contact
our town hall office at (252) 481-5823 to provide
us with that information.
If I have provided more than one phone number, when will
they be called?
Should a situation arise that requires us to contact you
at multiple phone numbers, we can activate the system to
place a simultaneous call to all of your numbers. In
most cases, we will be sending calls only to one phone
number.
My primary phone or my second listing is a cell phone
with a non-local area code. Will the Blackboard Connect
service call numbers outside the area?
Yes. The area code does not impact whether or not a
call is made.
How does the Blackboard Connect
system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations?
For busy signals, the call will be repeated several
times in an attempt to reach you. The same is true for
No-answer and Call-waiting. If a message recorder
answers the phone, the message will be left on the
answering device. If, after several attempts the call
does not successfully go through, the system will stop
attempting to call.
I am receiving city notification calls at my fax or my
secondary phone line. Can I switch to have the system
call my primary phone number?
Yes. Please contact us at (252) 481-5823 to
change the phone number in our notification database.
I was not able to listen to the entire call. Is there a
way to repeat the message?
Yes, at the end of the message playback, simply press
the star (*) key on your telephone to have it repeated
in its entirety.
I answer the phone but the “Hello” message repeats. It
then hangs up, calls back, and the same thing happens
again. How can I hear the entire message?
Repeating or looping of messages happens when the system
detects excessive noise in the background. Loud
radio/television volumes, people talking, or busy
traffic noise, can cause this. When you receive the
next call, say “hello” once and turn down the volume of
your radio/television or press the mute button on your
telephone to allow full message delivery. |
