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.
>>Sign
Up Here
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 our community would
be disseminated using the Connect-CTY service.
Examples
would include severe weather warnings and updates, hazardous
traffic or road conditions inside the county 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.
The
call-in emergency information line 618-539-5705 will still be available. Also, TV, radio and our village 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 in our
community be included in the notification database. To provide
contact information, please >>Sign
Up Here
May
I use a cell phone as my notification database listing?
Yes,
we can accept cell phones 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 village using the system?
The
caller-ID number for calls generated by the Connect-CTY service will be: (618) 539-5705. In addition, every
message will begin with the same standard announcement: “Hello, this is ______ calling with an important message from the
Village of Freeburg.” 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 village’s
telephone number to pass through. We may conduct periodic
tests 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 outside of our village, you
may provide additional phone numbers 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. Please
contact our village hall office at 618-539-5705 or >>Sign
Up Here 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 county 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 618-539-5705 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.