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.
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.
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 (708)449-8840, which is activated during an emergency situation, will still be available. Also, TV, radio and our Village web site will continue to broadcast important announcements.
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.
Yes, we can accept cell phones as secondary phone numbers in the database and encourage you to request that your number be included.
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.
The caller-ID number for calls generated by the Blackboard Connect service will be: (708)449-8840. In addition, every message will begin with the same standard announcement: “Hello, this is an important message (or courtesy call) from the Village of Berkeley.” The message content will follow this standard introduction.
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 Village’s telephone number to pass through. We may conduct periodic test to assure that messages are being delivered to numbers in the notification database.
For non-residents or owners who reside out of our Village, 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 Village hall office at (708)-449-8840 to provide us with that information.
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.
Yes. The area code does not impact whether or not a call is made.
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.
Yes. Please contact us at (708)449-8840 to change the phone number in our notification database.
Yes, at the end of the message playback, simply press the star (*) key on your telephone to have it repeated in its entirety.
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.
