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Configure Broadcast

The Broadcast module sends an outbound call to a list of numbers and plays a message — useful for emergency notifications, school closures, or appointment reminders. Each number is dialed and, if answered (or VM picks up), the message plays.

Outbound legality

Broadcasts touch outbound dialing rules — TCPA, robocall regulations, do-not-call lists. Confirm legal use before broadcasting to non-employee numbers.

Before You Start

  • An outbound trunk that allows automated calls (some carriers block bulk outbound).
  • A System Recording with the message.
  • A list of phone numbers to call.

Steps

Set up a broadcast

  1. Go to Group Attributes → Broadcast.
  2. Click + Add Broadcast.
  3. Fill in:
    • Description — e.g. Snow Day Notification.
    • Recording — pick the System Recording with the message.
    • Number List — one phone number per line, formatted to match an outbound route pattern. e.g. 
      12075551234
12075551235
12075551236
    • Channels — concurrent outbound calls. 5 is reasonable; higher = faster but more trunk load.
    • Retry on failed — number of redial attempts on no-answer/busy.
    • Time between retries — seconds.
    • Caller ID — what to present as outbound CID.
  4. Click Submit.
  5. Click Apply Config.

Trigger the broadcast

Some Broadcast versions trigger immediately on save; others wait for a manual Run button on the broadcast list page. Check the version. Once triggered, the system dials each number with the configured concurrency.

Verify

  • Watch outbound activity: 
    asterisk -rx "core show channels"
  • Check CDR for delivery results per number.
  • Check broadcast result page (if available) for per-call status.

Common Issues

  • Carrier blocks calls / drops trunk. Bulk outbound triggers fraud detection. Coordinate with the carrier and use a dedicated trunk if you broadcast often.
  • Message plays to busy/voicemail without context. That's expected — Broadcast doesn't differentiate. Use Confirm Calls in advanced setups (or a different tool like a queue callback) for delivery confirmation.
  • List too long → broadcast never finishes. Bump Channels carefully (don't exceed your trunk's capacity); split into smaller batches.
  • Numbers in wrong format. Each number must match an outbound route pattern. Test one number first.