City to update phone numbers, domain extension

The City of Fort Atkinson has announced that it will be implementing new phone numbers, a new domain name and is changing to fiber internet connection. The changes will be take effect July 1. 

The new domain will have a “.gov” extension. 

According to information released by the city, the new VOIP phones are internet-based and will allow more public accessibility. 

Information states that “because the new phones won’t accept the transfer of the current phone numbers,” changes will affect every department located within the city of Fort Atkinson, including the Hoard Historical Museum and the Dwight Foster Public Library. 

“Using a .gov domain, reserved solely for U.S. … government organizations and publicly controlled entities, increases security by enforcing multi-factor authentication, using preload, which requires browsers to only use a secure HTTPS connection with the city’s website and adds a security contract for the city’s domain, making it easier for the public to tell the city of a potential security issue with online services. Access to the new website address, www.fortatkinsonwi.gov, will be seamless for residents. The new email addresses for staff and elected officials will end with the @fortatkinsonwi.gov domain name. The fiber internet connection will be faster and more efficient,” the city’s release stated.  

“These are all great projects that will make access to the internet and our network more efficient, our network more secure and staff more accessible to the public. Residents will still be able to access services through the old phone numbers, website and email for a period of time before those links are gone. We encourage residents to save the new information we will be providing,” City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire was quoted as saying in the release. 

The City will provide additional information about the new phone numbers and email addresses in June to adequately prepare the public for the change over on July 1, the release noted.