 Connect-CTY
One-Step Notification Services
What is the Connect-CTY service?
The Connect-CTY service allows authorized civic leaders to
create and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive messages to
every telephone number stored in the notification database.
With the Connect-CTY 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 record a voice message that is then delivered
quickly to individual phones in the notification database.
What types of messages will be sent using the service?
Any message regarding the safety or welfare of Blanchard would
be disseminated using the Connect-CTY service.
Examples would 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.
Does the Connect-CTY 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.
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?
Connect-CTY™ is a service of The NTI Group, Inc. (NTI).
NTI 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. NTI only utilizes secure transmissions with
its customers. No confidential information is ever transmitted
between NTI 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. NTI also retains
an external, independent security firm to perform annual security
audits.
Will there be a way to positively identify incoming calls
which are made by the town using the system?
The caller-ID number for calls generated by the Connect-CTY
service will be the same as the Town Office number: 405-485-9392.
In addition, every message will begin with the same standard
announcement: "Hello, this is Chief ______ calling with
an important message from the City of Blanchard". The
message content will follow this standard introduction.
Will the Connect-CTY service work if I have a call screening
system on my phone?
There are several varieties of call screening devices which
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/city,
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 405-485-9392 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 Connect-CTY service call
numbers outside the area?
Yes. The area code does not impact whether or not a call is
made.
How does the Connect-CTY 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 the phone is answered by a message recorder,
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 town 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 405-485-9392 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. This can be caused by loud
radio/television volumes, people talking, or busy traffic
noise. 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.
|
