Cameron Communications Network Management Practices Policy November, Cameron Communications Network Management Practices Policy Disclosure

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1 Cameron Communications Network Management Practices Policy Disclosure Pursuant to the Federal Communications Commission s newly enacted Open Internet Rules found in Part 8 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Cameron Communications, LLC s ( Provider ) policies regarding network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms are provided in entirety so that Provider s current customers, prospective customers, third-party content providers and other interested parties can make informed choices regarding the broadband Internet access services offered by Provider, and the extent Provider s network management practices may affect those services. Network Management Practices In the interest of providing the best online experience possible for all of Provider s customers, Provider utilizes reasonable network management practices tailored to achieve legitimate network management purposes. Because bandwidth is a limited resource for broadband Internet service providers, it is essential that Provider reasonably manages its network to promote the use and enjoyment of the Internet by all of Provider s customers. By engaging in reasonable and responsible network management, Provider is protecting the integrity of its network in an effort to protect against the negative effects of spam, viruses, security attacks, network congestion, and other risks that threaten to negatively impact Provider s network and degrade service. The network management practices employed by Provider are consistent with industry standards. Congestion Management Provider s current congestion management practices with respect to network traffic are to assess network usage during peak usage periods on a regular basis to determine whether such usage is nearing a level that could result in network congestion and assess requirements for network bandwidth or capacity to the Internet to avoid or limit potential network congestion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is possible that some customers or applications may unexpectedly place a disproportionate demand on the network bandwidth resources, causing network congestion and an overall degradation in service quality for other end users. In the event this occurs, Provider will take this into consideration in evaluating future bandwidth or capacity needs of the network to alleviate network congestion. During the period of time such congestion occurs, customers will still be able to do anything they want online, and many activities will be unaffected; however, they may experience slower downloads and uploads and Internet/website response times. Customers using conduct that abuses or threatens the Provider network or which violates the company s Acceptable Use Policy, Internet service Terms and Conditions, 1

2 or the Internet Service Agreement will be asked to stop any such use immediately. A failure to respond or to cease any such conduct could result in service suspension or termination. Provider reserves the right to modify its current congestion management practices and implement other network management practices, tools or software, and will update this Network Management Practices Policy accordingly. Application-Specific Behavior Provider does not make use of any application-specific network management practices. Provider does not favor, modify, inhibit, rate control or block any specific protocols, protocol ports or fields, or any applications or classes of applications. Device Attachment Rules As part of Provider s broadband service, Provider provides to its customers the equipment necessary to access Provider s broadband service (i.e. a modem for DSL or an Ethernet port for broadband service provided via fiber to the home facilities). Other than this equipment, Provider does not restrict the type of devices attached to the network by customers. However, the device must conform to publicly available industry standards and be non-harmful to Provider s network. In the event that Provider discovers that any devices attached to its network negatively impact the network or Provider s broadband service, Provider reserves the right to require approval for the use of such devices and to modify this Network Management Practices Policy accordingly. Security Provider offers its customers unrestricted access to all of the lawful content, services, and applications available on the Internet. With respect to services provided as part of Provider s broadband service, Provider uses industry standard tools and generally accepted best practices and policies to protect our network and customers from spam and other harmful online content and activities. In the instances where these tools and policies identify content as harmful or unwanted, the content may be prevented from reaching customers, or customers may be permitted to identify or inspect content to determine if it is harmful or unwanted. Such will be deleted after five (5) days if it is not inspected. Provider does not currently provide security protection to individual customers with respect to a customer s online activities, nor does it currently employ any security measures that would prevent customers from running particular applications. As its normal practice, Provider does not block any protocols, content or traffic for purposes of network management except that the company may block or limit such traffic as spam, viruses, malware, or denial of service attacks to protect network integrity and the security of our customers. Provider does filter ports to reduce the spread of computer-related viruses and protecting your computer from intruder access. 2

3 Performance Characteristics Provider offers broadband Internet access service via a Digital Subscriber Line ( DSL ) or though a fiber to the home facility ( FTH ), where available. DSL is a wireline transmission technology that transmits data faster over combination of fiber and traditional copper telephone lines. Broadband speeds supported by DSL depend on the length of the copper used. FTTH utilizes fiber cable which has essentially an unlimited amount of bandwidth available. The Provider offers several advertised service tiers offering best efforts performance. All Tiers are available at the locations served with FTTH. Not all tiers are available at some locations served with DSL. In addition, even if the maximum advertised speed is attainable for DSL end users, several factors may affect the actual speed of Provider s Internet service offerings, including, but not limited to: the distance of the consumer s home or office from Provider s central office (i.e., the further away the customer is from the central office, the slower the broadband speed). The Provider s advertised speed relates to the Provider s network. Other factors outside the Provider s network can also affect the customers performance such as the end user s computer, modem or router, by the particular website being accessed, capacity in the public internet beyond the Provider network and the customer s computer, inside wiring, wireless router, traffic and congestion on your home network or corporate LAN, and Windows PC settings, in addition to other factors. Provider s broadband services are best effort performance. Provider makes every effort to support advertised speeds and will dispatch repair technicians to customer sites to perform speed tests as needed to troubleshoot and resolve speed and application performance issues that are caused by Provider s network. Provider measures availability, latency, and aggregate utilization on the network and strives to meet internal service level targets in its network. However, the customer s performance is also affected by the particular website being accessed, capacity in the public internet beyond the Provider network and the customer s computer, inside wiring, wireless router, and other customer equipment. Customers can test their actual speeds using the speed test found on the company website at for customers in Moss Bluff, LA and for all other customers. The actual speeds and latency achieved with Provider s Internet service offering make Provider s Internet service suitable for real-time applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP ). 3

4 Provider offers the following specialized services, in certain service areas: video service delivered via Internet Protocol ( IPTV ) and VoIP. Specialized service and best efforts services share the overall bandwidth but each service type always has a certain minimum level of bandwidth available that prevents one service from utilizing all the bandwidth. Under normal circumstances and subject to the broadband service package(s) that is available to a customer at a specific location, Provider does not anticipate that these services will create any limitation or degradation to the broadband service purchased by a customer from Provider. Commercial Terms Pricing In order to meet the usage and budgetary needs of all of our customers, and any network limitations in a particular service area, Provider offers a wide selection of broadband Internet access plan options, including promotional offerings, bundled service choices, and ala carte alternatives. To see Provider s current promotions and pricing on broadband Internet access service, please visit our website or call to speak with a customer service representative. Early Termination Fees Provider does not currently provide broadband Internet access service subject to a term commitment, and therefore does not impose any early termination fees with respect to a customer s termination of broadband Internet access service with Provider. In the event Provider offers a broadband Internet access service with a term commitment in the future, Provider reserves the right to modify this Network Management Practices Policy accordingly to address any applicable early termination fees. Usage-Based Fees Provider s Internet access service is currently priced on a flat-fee basis (plus applicable taxes and any other governmental charges). Provider does not currently charge end users a usage-based fee for Internet access service. However, Provider reserves the right to implement usage-based pricing in the future and will provide notification to its customers and update this Network Management Practices Policy accordingly. Privacy Policy Provider affords full access to all lawful content, services and applications available on the Internet and does not routinely monitor, inspect or store the network activity and traffic of its Internet service users, other than storage of information related to IP address usage. However, Provider reserves the right to monitor bandwidth, usage, 4

5 transmissions and content for purposes of protecting the integrity of the network and Provider s Internet access service through reasonable network management practices. Provider may collect equipment information to identify the equipment customer is using on the network, including, but not limited to: equipment type, serial number, settings, configuration and software. Provider may also collect performance information to examine the operation of the equipment, services and applications the customer may use on the network, including, but not limited to: IP addresses, URLs, data transmission rates and latencies, location information, security characteristics, and information about the amount of bandwidth and other network resources customer is using in connections with uploading, downloading or streaming data to and from the Internet. Network traffic, activity, performance information, and equipment information monitored or collected by Provider is done so for the sole purpose of reasonable network management purposes. Such information is not shared with third parties. Provider is required to comply with relevant laws, regulations and judicial orders. Information covered under this Privacy Policy, as well as other categories of information, may be disclosed to third parties if Provider determines, in its sole discretion, that such a disclosure is necessary or required, such as in relation to copyright infringement claims or a law enforcement action. Provider may also disclose this information if, in its sole discretion, such a disclosure is necessary or required to protect our interests or the interests of our customers. The Provider s network management practices as discussed herein are intended solely to provide the best online experience possible for all of Provider s customers by safeguarding our network and broadband Internet access service. Provider s network management practices are not intended, nor implemented, to block consumers from accessing the content and applications of their choice, deprive consumers of their entitlement to competition, or discriminate against or in favor of certain network traffic. End users with questions, concerns or complaints regarding Provider s network management practices are encouraged to contact Provider for issue resolution. Contact Us If you have any questions regarding Provider s Network Management Practices Policy or would like to file a complaint with Provider regarding its network management practices, please contact Provider at: Cameron Communications Attn: Katy Large, Customer Care Manager 153 W. Dave Dugas Road, Sulphur, LA Phone Number: Fax Number: Address: katy.large@camtel.com Web URL: 5

6 Further, if you believe that Provider is in violation of the FCC s Open Internet Rules, you may file either an informal or formal complaint with the FCC. Additional Disclaimers The Open Internet Rules, as adopted, and Provider s Network Management Practices Policy are not intended to affect, alter or otherwise supersede the legal status of cooperative efforts by broadband Internet access service providers and other service providers that are designed to curtail infringement in response to information provided by rights holders in a manner that is timely, effective, and accommodates the legitimate interests of providers, rights holders, and end users. Furthermore, the Open Internet Rules, as adopted, and Provider s Network Management Practices Policy do not prohibit Provider from making reasonable efforts to address the transfer of unlawful content or unlawful transfers of content. For additional information, please review Provider s Acceptable Internet Use Policy/Subscriber Agreement at: 6