Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (“PVT”) 

Acceptable Use Policy

These terms and conditions state important requirements regarding your use of PVT’s internet access service and your relationship with PVT. You should read them carefully as they contain important information regarding your rights and ours.

If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, you may not use the service, and you must terminate your service immediately.

PVT may revise this Acceptable Use Policy (the “Policy”) from time to time without notice by posting a new version of this document on PVT.com, or any successor URL(s). All revisions of the Policy are effective immediately upon posting. Accordingly, customers and users of the PVT  Internet Service should regularly visit these web sites and review this Policy to ensure that their activities conform to the most recent version. In the event of a conflict between any subscriber or customer agreement and this Policy, the terms of this Policy will govern. Questions regarding this Policy and complaints of violations of it by PVT customers and users can be directed to PVT via “Help” email obtainable at PVT.com.

It is PVT’s intent to provide our customers with high quality Internet service. In order to accomplish this task, we have adopted this Acceptable Use Policy (the “AUP” or “Policy”). This Policy outlines acceptable use of the PVT Internet access service (the “Service”), as well as permissible and prohibited conduct for using the Service to access the Internet. This Policy, including its customer use restrictions, is in addition to the restrictions contained in the PVT Internet Customer Agreement (the “Customer Agreement”). All capitalized terms used in this AUP that are not defined here have the meanings given to them in the Customer Agreement.

It is the responsibility of all PVT Internet customers and all others who have access to PVT’s network (“customer,” “you,” or “your”), to comply with this AUP and all PVT policies. As a Service customer, it is your responsibility to secure your computer equipment so that it is not subject to external threats such as viruses, spam, and other methods of intrusion. Failure to comply with these or any other PVT policies could result in the suspension or termination of your Service. If you do not agree to comply with all of these policies including the AUP, you must immediately stop use of the Service and notify PVT so that your account may be closed.

Note: PVT reserves the right to immediately terminate the Service and the Customer Agreement if you engage in any of the prohibited activities listed in this AUP or if you use the PVT Equipment or Service in a way which is contrary to any PVT policies or any of PVT’s suppliers’ policies. You must strictly adhere to any policy set forth by another service provider accessed through the Service.

Prohibited Uses and Activities

Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, using the Service, Customer Equipment, or the PVT Equipment to:

1. undertake or accomplish any unlawful purpose. This includes, but is not limited to, posting, storing, transmitting or disseminating information, data or material which is libelous, obscene, unlawful, threatening, defamatory, or which infringes the intellectual property rights of any person or entity, or which in any way constitutes or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any local, state, federal or international law, order or regulation;
2. post, store, send, transmit, or disseminate any information or material which a reasonable person could deem to be objectionable, offensive, indecent, pornographic, harassing, threatening, embarrassing, distressing, vulgar, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, or otherwise inappropriate, regardless of whether this material or its dissemination is unlawful;
3. access any other person’s computer or computer system, software, or data without their knowledge and consent; breach the security of another user; or attempt to circumvent the user authentication or security of any host, network, or account. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing data not intended for you, logging into or making use of a server or account you are not expressly authorized to access, or probing the security of other hosts, networks, or accounts;
4. use or distribute tools designed or used for compromising security, such as password guessing programs, decoders, password gatherers, analyzers, cracking tools, packet sniffers, encryption circumvention devices, or Trojan Horse programs. Network probing or port scanning tools are only permitted when used in conjunction with a residential home network, or if explicitly authorized by the destination host and/or network. Unauthorized port scanning, for any reason, is strictly prohibited;
5. upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, create derivative works of, or distribute in any way information, software or other material obtained through the Service or otherwise that is protected by copyright or other proprietary right, without obtaining permission of the owner;
6. copy, distribute, or sublicense any software provided in connection with the Service by PVT or any third party, except that you may make one copy of each software program for back­up purposes only;
7. restrict, inhibit, or otherwise interfere with the ability of any other person, regardless of intent, purpose or knowledge, to use or enjoy the Service, including, without limitation, posting or transmitting any information or software which contains a worm, virus, or other harmful feature, or generating levels of traffic sufficient to impede others’ ability to send or retrieve information;
8. restrict, inhibit, interfere with, or otherwise disrupt or cause a performance degradation, regardless of intent, purpose or knowledge, to the Service or any PVT (or PVT supplier) host, server, backbone network, node or service, or otherwise cause a performance degradation to any PVT (or PVT supplier) facilities used to deliver the Service;
9. resell the Service or otherwise make available to anyone outside the Premises the ability to use the Service (i.e. wi­fi, or other methods of networking), in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, or on a bundled or unbundled basis. The Service is for personal and non­commercial use only and you agree not to use the Service for operation as an Internet service provider or for any business enterprise or purpose, or as an end­point on a non­PVT local area network or wide area network;
10. connect multiple computers behind the cable modem to set up a LAN (Local Area Network) that in any manner would result in a violation of the terms of this Policy or an applicable Service plan;
11. transmit unsolicited bulk or commercial messages or “spam.” This includes, but is not limited to, unsolicited advertising, promotional materials or other solicitation material, bulk mailing of commercial advertising, chain mail, informational announcements, charity requests, and petitions for signatures;
12. send numerous copies of the same or substantially similar messages, empty messages, or messages which contain no substantive content, or send very large messages or files to a recipient that disrupts a server, account, newsgroup, or chat service;
13. distribute programs that remove locks or time­outs built into software (cracks);
14. run programs, equipment, or servers from the Premises that provide network content or any other services to anyone outside of your Premises LAN (Local Area Network), also commonly referred to as public services or servers. Examples of prohibited services and servers include, but are not limited to, e­mail, Web hosting, file sharing, and proxy services and servers;
15. initiate, perpetuate, or in any way participate in any pyramid or other illegal soliciting scheme;
16. participate in the collection of e­mail addresses, screen names, or other identifiers of others (without their prior consent), a practice sometimes known as spidering or harvesting, or participate in the use of software (including “spyware”) designed to facilitate this activity;
17. collect responses from unsolicited messages;
18. impersonate any person or entity, engage in sender address falsification, forge anyone else’s digital or manual signature, forge any TCP/IP packet header (or any part of the header information in an email or a newsgroup posting) or gain access to any account or computer resource not belonging to you (e.g., “spoofing”) or otherwise hack, crack into, monitor, access, use, probe, or scan without authorization any system, network, data, traffic or security authentication measure or perform any other similar fraudulent activity;
19. service, alter, modify, or tamper with the PVT Equipment or Service or permit any other person to do the same who is not authorized by PVT;
20. connect the PVT Equipment to any computer outside of your Premises;
21. collect, or attempt to collect, personal information about third parties without their consent;
22. interfere with computer networking or telecommunications service to any user, host or network, including, without limitation, denial of service attacks, flooding of a network, overloading a service, improper seizing and abuse of operator privileges and attempts to “crash” a host; and
23. violate the rules, regulations, or policies applicable to any network, server, computer database, or Web site that you access.

Prohibited Activities Regarding Cable TV

PVT will not authorize or permit the exhibition of any inDemand Pay­Per­View Program or any inDemand Pay­Per­View Channel(s) in non­residential establishments, including, without limitation:

1. any locations open to the public;
2. locations where an admission fee, cover charge, minimum or like sum is charged;
3. commercial establishments, such as restaurants and bars,
4. other non­residential buildings, such as hospitals, police stations, nursing homes, prisons, penal institutions, schools, libraries, and
5. or any public or common area in a residential building (such as an apartment house lobby) or otherwise. inDemand Pay­Per­View is not available to any commercial establishment.

Connected Device Security

You are responsible for any misuse of the Service, even if the misuse was committed by a friend, family member, or guest with access to your Service account. Therefore, you must take steps to ensure that others do not use your account to gain unauthorized access to the Service by, for example, strictly maintaining the confidentiality of your Service login and password. In all cases, you are solely responsible for the security of any device you choose to connect to the Service, including any data stored or shared on that device. Account functions such as verifying and maintaining the account, options and settings, must be performed by a person at least 18 years of age, without exception. PVT recommends against enabling file or printer sharing of any sort unless you do so in strict compliance with all security recommendations and features provided by PVT and the manufacturer of the applicable file or printer sharing devices. Any files or devices (such as smart thermostats, connected lightbulbs, etc) you choose to make available for shared access on a home LAN, for example, should be protected with a strong password or as otherwise appropriate.

Inappropriate Content and Transmissions

PVT reserves the right, but not the obligation, to refuse to transmit or post and to remove or block any information or materials, in whole or in part, that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be offensive, indecent, or otherwise inappropriate, regardless of whether this material or its dissemination is unlawful. Neither PVT nor any of its affiliates, suppliers, or agents have any obligation to monitor transmissions or postings (including, but not limited to, e­mail, newsgroup, and instant message transmissions as well as materials available on the Personal Web Pages and Online Storage features) made on the Service. However, PVT and its affiliates, suppliers, and agents have the right to monitor these transmissions and postings from time to time for violations of this Policy and to disclose, block, or remove them in accordance with the Subscriber Agreement and any other applicable agreements and policies.

Electronic Mail

The Service may not be used to send unsolicited bulk or commercial messages and may not be used to collect responses from unsolicited e­mail sent from accounts on other Internet hosts or e­mail services that violate this Policy or the acceptable use policy of any other Internet service provider. Moreover, unsolicited e­mail may not direct the recipient to any Web site or other resource that uses the Service. Activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial e­mail or unsolicited bulk e­mail, whether or not the e­mail is commercial in nature, are prohibited. Forging, altering, or removing electronic mail headers is prohibited. You may not reference PVT or the PVT network (e.g. by including “Organization: PVT” in the header or by listing an IP address that belongs to PVT or the PVT network) in any unsolicited e­mail even if that e­mail is not sent through the PVT network or Service.

PVT is not responsible for forwarding e­mail sent to any account that has been suspended or terminated. This e­mail will be returned to the sender, ignored, deleted, or stored temporarily at PVT’s sole discretion. In the event that PVT believes in its sole discretion that any subscriber name, account name, or e­mail address (collectively, an “identifier”) on the Service may be used for, or is being used for, any misleading, fraudulent, or other improper or illegal purpose, PVT (i) reserves the right to block access to and prevent the use of any such identifier and (ii) may at any time require any customer to change his or her identifier. In addition, PVT may at any time reserve any identifiers on the Service for PVT’s own purposes. PVT reserves the right to deactivate email accounts that have not been accessed for a period of 180 consecutive days.

Instant Messages

Users alone are responsible for the contents of their instant messages and the consequences of any instant messages. PVT assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, mis­delivery, deletion or failure to store instant messages.

Network, Bandwidth, Data Storage and Other Limitations

You must comply with all current bandwidth, data storage, and other limitations on the Service established by PVT and its suppliers. In addition, you may only access and use the Service with a dynamic Internet Protocol (“IP”) address that adheres to the dynamic host configuration protocol (“DHCP”). You may not access or use the Service with a static IP address or using any protocol other than DHCP unless you are subject to a Service plan that expressly permits otherwise.

You must ensure that your activity (including, but not limited to, use made by you or others of any Personal Web Features) does not improperly restrict, inhibit, or degrade any other user’s use of the Service, nor represent (in the sole judgment of PVT) an unusually large burden on the network. In addition, you must ensure that your activities do not improperly restrict, inhibit, disrupt, degrade or impede PVT’s ability to deliver the Service and monitor the Service, backbone, network nodes, and/or other network Services.

PVT does not routinely monitor the activity of Service accounts for violation of this AUP. However, in our efforts to promote good citizenship within the Internet community, we will respond appropriately if we become aware of inappropriate use of our Service. Although PVT has no obligation to monitor the Service and/or the network, PVT and its suppliers reserve the right at any time to monitor bandwidth, usage, transmissions, and content from time to time to operate the Service; to identify violations of this Policy; and/or to protect the network, the Service and PVT users.

PVT prefers to advise customers of inappropriate behavior and any necessary corrective action. However, if the Service is used in a way that PVT or its suppliers, in their sole discretion, believe violate this AUP, PVT or its suppliers may take any responsive actions they deem appropriate. These actions include, but are not limited to, temporary or permanent removal of content, cancellation of newsgroup posts, filtering of Internet transmissions, and the immediate suspension or termination of all or any portion of the Service. Neither PVT nor its affiliates, suppliers, or agents will have any liability for any these responsive actions. These actions are not PVT’s exclusive remedies and PVT may take any other legal or technical action it deems appropriate.

PVT reserves the right to investigate suspected violations of this AUP, including the gathering of information from the user or users involved and the complaining party, if any, and examination of material on PVT’s servers and network. During an investigation, PVT may suspend the account or accounts involved and/or remove or block material that potentially violates this Policy. You expressly authorize PVT and its suppliers to cooperate with (i) law enforcement authorities in the investigation of suspected legal violations, and (ii) and system administrators at other Internet service providers or other network or computing facilities in order to enforce this Policy. This cooperation may include PVT providing available personally identifiable information about you to law enforcement or system administrators, including, but not limited to, username, subscriber name, and other account information. Upon termination of your account, PVT is authorized to delete any files, programs, data and e­mail messages associated with your account.

The failure of PVT or its suppliers to enforce this AUP, for whatever reason, shall not be construed as a waiver of any right to do so at any time. You agree that if any portion of this Policy is held invalid or unenforceable, that portion will be construed consistent with applicable law as nearly as possible, and the remaining portions will remain in full force and effect.

The provisions of this Policy are not meant to be exhaustive. Generally, conduct that violates law, regulation, or the accepted norms and ethics of the Internet community or the community at large, whether or not expressly mentioned in this Policy, is prohibited. We reserve the right at all times to prohibit activities that damage our commercial reputation and goodwill or affect the quality of our services or our ability to provide services.

You shall comply with all applicable local, state, national and international laws and regulations, including those related to data privacy, international communications, and exportation or technical or personal data. You represent that you are not a specifically designated individual or entity under any US embargo or otherwise the subject, either directly or indirectly (by affiliation, or any other connection with another party) to any order issued by any agency of the US Government limiting, barring, revoking or denying, in whole or in part your US export privileges. You agree to notify PVT if you become subject to any such order.

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless PVT and its affiliates, suppliers, and agents against all claims and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from you engaging in any of the prohibited activities listed in this AUP or resulting from your violation of the AUP or of any other posted PVT policy related to the Service. Your indemnification will survive any termination of the Subscriber Agreement.

Unlimited Long Distance (Telephone Customers)

PVT’s unlimited long distance service is a service offered for reasonable voice use only.

All toll calls outside of the contiguous 48 states will be charged standard PVT long distance rates. Subscriber acknowledges use of this service for data, modem, Virtual Private Network (VPN), or other non­voice services, other than standard facsimile are strictly prohibited. Any form of mass or junk faxing is prohibited. PVT reserves the right to suspend or terminate the Unlimited Long Distance Service to Subscriber for any violation of this Agreement or the Terms of Use.

Warranties and limitation of liability.

You acknowledge and agree that the service supplied hereunder is provided on an “as is” or “as available” basis, with all faults. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this agreement and as otherwise specifically set forth in any manufacturer warranty for any equipment provided by PVT (but only if such warranty is included with such equipment), PVT (and its officers, employees, parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates), its third party licensors, providers and suppliers, including global service providers (GSPs), disclaim any and all warranties for the service, whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, non­infringement, non­interference, title, compatibility of computer systems, integration, and those arising from course of dealing, course of trade, or arising under statute. No advice or information given by PVT or its representatives shall create a warranty. Use of PVT technical support is at your own risk and is not warranted.

PVT does not warrant or guarantee that service can be provisioned to your location or that provisioning will occur according to a specified schedule, even if PVT has accepted your order for service. The provisioning of service is subject to service availability and other factors, including your computer/device configuration and capabilities, among other factors.

PVT does not warrant that the service or equipment provided by PVT will perform at a particular speed, bandwidth or data throughput rate, or will be uninterrupted, error­free, secure, or free of viruses, worms, or the like. PVT shall not be liable for loss of your data, or if changes in operation, procedures, or services require modification or alteration of your equipment, render the same obsolete or otherwise affect its performance. PVT makes no warranty regarding any transactions executed using the service or the internet. PVT makes no warranty regarding the content and information accessed by using the service or any links displayed. You expressly assume all risk and responsibility for use of the service and the internet generally. Do not use the service in any high risk activities where damage or injury to person, property, environment, or business may result if an error occurs.

In No Event Shall PVT (Or Its Officers, Employees, Parent, Subsidiaries, Or Affiliates), Its Third Party Licensors, Providers Or Suppliers Be Liable For:

Any Direct, Indirect, Special, Consequential Or Incidental Damages, Including Without Limitation, Lost Profits Or Loss Of Revenue Or Damage To Data Arising Out Of The Use, Partial Use Or Inability To Use The Service, Regardless Of The Type Of Claim Or The Nature Of The Cause Of Action, Including Without Limitation, Those Arising Under Contract, Tort, Negligence Or Strict Liability, Even If PVT Has Been Advised Of The Possibility Of Such Claim Or Damages, Or

Any Claims Against You By Any Other Party.

All Limitations and Disclaimers Stated In This Paragraph Also Apply To PVT’s Third Party Licensors, Providers And Suppliers, As Third Party Beneficiaries Of This Agreement.

Any Rights or Limits Stated Herein Are the Maximum for which PVT (and Its Officers, Employees, Parent, Subsidiaries, And Affiliates), PVT’s Third Party Licensors, Providers and Suppliers Are Collectively Responsible.

The Remedies Expressly Set Forth In this Agreement Are your Sole and Exclusive Remedies. You May Have Additional Rights Under Certain Laws (Such As Consumer Laws), which Do Not Allow the Exclusion of Implied Warranties, or the Exclusion or Limitation of Certain Damages. If These Laws Apply, our Exclusions or Limitations May Not Apply to You.

PVT Reserves the Right to Pursue Any and All Legal and Equitable Claims Against You Pertaining to Your Use or Misuse of the Service or for Your Breach of This Agreement (Including Any Policies Relating to the Service.)

Internet Provisions

PVT does not endorse or in any way vouch for the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of any service, opinion, advice, communication, information or other content on or made available through the Service. None of such content should be construed or understood to constitute or reflect the views or approval of PVT or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. We do not recommend that such content be relied upon for reaching important decisions or conclusions without appropriate verification and, as appropriate, professional advice.

You acknowledge that Internet sites, and use of the Internet, might consist of, include and/or provide access to images, sound, messages, text, services or other content and material that may be unsuitable for minors and that may be objectionable to many adults. You acknowledge that PVT is not responsible for any such content or material and agree that access to same through use of the Service is at your sole risk. The reliability, availability, legality, performance and other aspects of resources accessed through the Internet are beyond PVT’s reasonable control and are not in any way warranted or supported by PVT or its third party contractors. You acknowledge that safeguards relative to copyright, ownership, appropriateness, reliability, legality and integrity of content may be entirely lacking with respect to the Internet and content accessible through it. You confirm that you assume all risk and liability of any use of the Internet through your account.

Access and Upgrades

Please note that PVT may automatically check the version of the equipment provided by PVT to connect Customer to the PVT service (Customer Equipment) and PVT software you are running and may provide upgrades to the system that will be automatically downloaded to your Customer Equipment. In addition, PVT may check the health and status of your system to ensure that the configuration of your computer is optimized for use with the Service. You hereby authorize all such access and upgrades.

DMCA

Owners of copyrighted works who believe that their rights under U.S. copyright law have been infringed may take advantage of certain provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the “DMCA”) to report alleged infringements. It is PVT’s policy in accordance with the DMCA and other applicable laws to reserve the right to terminate the service provided to any customer or user who is either found to infringe third party copyright or other intellectual property rights, including repeat infringers, or who PVT believes in its sole discretion is infringing these rights. PVT may terminate the service at any time with or without notice for any affected customer or user.

Designation of Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement

PVT Networks, Inc.

Eugene McCord

4011 W Main Street, Artesia, NM 88210

Phone: 575-748-1241

email: [email protected]