Network Management Practices Policy

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, the policies of Evertek, United Farmers Telephone Company and N.E.T. Broadband, LLC (collectively, “Provider”) 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 prevents its customers from being subjected to the negative effects of spam, viruses, security attacks, network congestion, and other risks that threaten to degrade service. The network management practices employed by Provider are consistent with industry standards.

Congestion Management
Provider does not employ any congestion management tools, practices and/or software on network traffic.

Application-Specific Behavior
Provider does not modify protocol fields in ways not prescribed by protocol standard. Provider does not favor or inhibit any applications or classes of applications. Provider does not rate-control specific protocols or protocol ports. Provider does engage in blocking peer-to-peer (“P2P”) applications.

Device Attachment Rules
In order for a device to be approved for use on the Provider’s network, the device must conform to publicly available industry standards and be non-harmful to Provider’s network. Provider utilizes Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”) to assign customers an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address.

Security
Provider offers its customers unrestricted access to all of the lawful content, services, and applications available on the Internet. Provider uses Procera products and services to protect our network and its users from spam, phishing, and other unwanted or 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.

To ensure security protection for network users, Provider has SecureIT services available for a minimal monthly fee. The SecureIT services available from Provider include automated spyware protection, automated virus protection, automated Windows updates, firewall protection, parental controls, and pop-up blockers for Internet Explorer.

The security measures employed by Provider to prevent the spread of viruses, malware, spam, harmful and unwanted content or other threats to consumers do not prevent end-users from running certain applications.

Performance Characteristics
Provider offers broadband Internet access service via Fiber-to-the-Home (“FTTH”), cable modem and wireless technology. FTTH utilizes fiber optic cable to deliver telephone, data and video services. With the capacity for an indefinite amount of data, FTTH technology allows subscribers to receive better quality voice, data and video services in their homes. Broadband Internet access service delivered via a cable modem uses the existing cable television infrastructure (coaxial cable) for bi-directional data communication and transmission. Provider’s wireless broadband Internet service uses FCC-approved licensed radio frequencies to ensure a constant, reliable Internet connection.

The technology utilized to provide broadband Internet access service to an individual customer will be dependent upon the customer’s address as the Provider does not offer all technologies to all locations in the network. CenCom’s FTTH offering is available in certain service areas.

The advertised speed of Provider’s Internet service is the maximum speed achievable with the technology utilized by Provider. While the maximum advertised speed is attainable for end users, several factors may affect the actual speed of Provider’s Internet service offerings, including, but not limited to: the service package subscribed 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 end user’s computer, modem or router, activity during peak usage periods, and other Internet traffic.

Based on internal testing utilizing speed-monitoring software, during peak usage periods (i.e., between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on weeknights), the actual achieved throughput speeds will be the advertised speed plus or minus 10% of the advertised speed rates. Provider’s internal testing, established a mean round trip latency of less than 100 ms.

To check your service speeds, a consumer accessible speed test is available at: http://speedtest.net/

The actual speeds achieved with Provider’s Internet service offering make Provider’s Internet service suitable for real-time applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”).

Provider does not offer any specialized services.

Commercial Terms

Pricing
In order to meet the usage and budgetary needs of all of our customers, Provider offers a wide selection of broadband Internet access plan options, including promotional offerings, bundled service choices, and ala carte alternatives.

To learn about Provider’s current promotions and pricing on broadband Internet access service, for Evertek/UFTC services please call (800) 242-0154 to speak with a customer service representative and for N.E.T. Broadband services, please call (877) 383-7835.

Early Termination Fees
If a customer previously entered into a service agreement with Provider for broadband Internet access service for a defined service term, and customer desires to terminate the service agreement prior to the expiration of that term, Provider may charge a reasonable early termination fee if such fee is clearly indicated in the service agreement.

Usage-Based Fees
Provider’s Internet service is priced on a flat-fee basis (plus taxes). Provider does not charge end users a usage-based fee for Internet service.

Privacy Policy
Provider affords full access to all lawful content, services and applications available on the Internet. Provider utilizes Procera equipment and services to engage in deep packet inspection of the network activity and traffic of its Internet service users. Additionally, Provider reserves the right to monitor bandwidth, usage, transmissions and content for purposes of protecting the integrity of the network and Provider’s Internet access service through reasonable network management practices.

As part of its network management practices, Provider does not store network activity information, distribute information on network activity and/or traffic to any third party, or use network traffic information for any non-network management purpose.

Provider is required to comply with relevant laws, regulations and governmental requests.

For troubleshooting purposes, 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.

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. 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. Provider may also disclose this information in connection with the sale of our business.

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 its users from spam, viruses, phishing, and other unwanted or harmful online content and activities. 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:

Evertek
216 North Main
P.O. Box 270
Everly, IA 51338
Telephone Number: (800) 242-0154 

N.E.T. Broadband, LLC 
216 North Main
P.O. Box 270
Everly, IA 51338
Telephone Number: (877) 383-7835

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.

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

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 Internet Terms & Conditions at: http://www.evertek.net/internetterms.php