Frequently Asked Questions

The Blackboard Connect service allows authorized civic leaders to create and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive messages to telephone numbers and email addresses stored in the notification database.

Authorized officials record a voice message that is then delivered quickly to individual phones in the notification database. Residents are informed by telephone, e-mail, and/or text when there is an emergency or other important public safety or public health announcement such as severe weather warnings, hazardous road conditions affecting local routes, public health emergencies and any other situation that could impact the safety, property, or welfare of our citizens.

This system supplements existing means of communication and is not a replacement for the systems we have used in the past. The Town emergency fire horn which is activated during an emergency situation will still be available. Residents are encouraged to use other emergency warning systems such as the Massachusetts Alerts app that provides warnings such as tornado warnings that may not be provided through Blackboard Connect.

Blackboard Connect uses the white pages to create a database of those who will receive notifications. You can sign up to add email, work phone number and cell phone numbers and choose whether you would like text or voice messaging.

Blackboard Connect® is a service of Blackboard Connect Inc. (BCI). BCI takes security and privacy concerns very seriously and does not sell, trade, lease or loan any data about our clients to any third party. We utilize multiple physical and virtual layers of firewalls to maintain data security.

The caller - ID number for calls generated by the Blackboard Connect service will be: 978-369-6136. In addition, every message will begin with the same standard announcement: “Hello, this is ______ calling with an important message from the Town of Carlisle.” The message content will follow this standard introduction.

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 tests to assur e that messages are being delivered to numbers in the notification database.

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 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.

Yes. Please contact us at 978-369-0283 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. 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.

If you are receiving these messages and wish to change the number or opt out, please contact the Fire Chief at 978-369-2888 or via e-mail at chief@carlislefdma.org.