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Protection of our resources and the ability to provide quality service to our customers, conformance with existing law, and the protection of our reputation as a service provider are all contributing factors to the policies outlined below.
It is our intention to allow OnLine users total access to everything the Internet has to offer with minimal or no interference. Our belief in free speech is paramount in the creation of this document. However, as we all know that free speech does not include the right to shout "Fire" in a crowded theater, certain activities are considered inappropriate. It is our goal to provide this document as a guide to our views on what constitutes inappropriate use of OnLine access to the Internet and to inform our users of what actions we may take, with or without notice in the event that we become aware of inappropriate use of OnLine service.
We would like to advise our users that there are tools available, such as Cyber Patrol, which can screen newsgroups which some people may consider offensive. OnLine does not screen any newsgroups based on content as we believe these choices should be left to the individual.
Except for measurements of bandwidth and disk utilization, we do not monitor activity. However, in our efforts to promote good citizenship with other users and providers, if we become aware of inappropriate use of OnLine service, we will respond.
Statement of Policy
The following activities are considered inappropriate and would be grounds for termination of OnLine service:
Spamming:
The practice of intentionally posting inappropriate articles to
various newsgroups
Mail bombing:
Sending large volumes of unsolicited e-mail to individuals.
Impersonation:
Posting to newsgroups or sending e-mail under a fictitious name.
Harassment:
Sending repeated, unsolicited threatening or harassing (in our
opinion) e-mail to other users after being requested by those users to stop.
Network unfriendly activity:
Activities which adversely affect the ability
of other people or systems to use OnLine services or the Internet.
Privacy violations:
Attempts, whether successful or not, to gain access to any
other system or users' private data without express consent of the user.
Note:
Any service available through OnLine, other than e-mail
is considered public, including home directories.
Also, see separate section re: privacy below.
Financial violations:
If OnLine becomes aware that any of its members have participated in the above, we reserve the right to terminate service without notice, however our preferred course of action would be to advise the user of the inappropriate behavior and ask that it not be repeated.
In the event that a user's access is temporarily inactivated as a result of any of the above activities, the account may be subject to reactivation charges and/or deposit requirements to be determined by OnLine.
Bandwidth and Disk Utilization
The bandwidth used by an account is the aggregate number of data bytes
requested from the FTP and Web facilities of the account. Transfer of
information from any of these facilities counts toward the bandwidth limit
of a user.
Bandwidth utilization is cumulative; that is, all use is added up over a
given time period to determine bandwidth used.
Disk utilization of an account is the total disk space required to store
email, user files
(including FTP files and downloads), and Web pages. Unlike bandwidth, disk
utilization is not cumulative, but rather is measured by finding the largest
value used at any instant during a given time period.
OnLine account descriptions specify limits on bandwidth and disk
utilization for each type of user, and use up to these limits is included in
the price for that type of user.
In the event OnLine determines that a user is exceeding the bandwidth
and/or disk utilization, the user will be notified by email. If the excess
use continues for more than 48 hours after such notification, the customer
may be requested to upgrade to a web hosting service agreement or to modify
the activity creating the excess use.
If excessive bandwidth or disk space utilization is determined to adversely
affect OnLine's ability to provide service for all customers, immediate
action may be taken to alleviate the problem. The user will be notified by
email as soon as practicable.
Privacy
All access provided by OnLine is considered 'public' except individual user email, which is considered private.
OnLine considers the right to privacy a very important right for our users. OnLine views any attempt to read, modify, or otherwise use another user's private email without permission as a very serious privacy violation.
It may become necessary for OnLine employees to examine system accounting logs and other records to determine if privacy violations or other network unfriendly activities have occurred. OnLine also reserves the right to access a user's mailbox to resolve system problems or mail system errors.
In addition, in the event of properly presented authority, OnLine will cooperate with authorities in investigating claims of illegal activity, including but not limited to illegal transfer or availability of copyrighted material, postings or e-mail containing threats of violence or other illegal activity.
OnLine makes no guarantee and assumes no liability for the security of any data on any server including "secure servers".
Our users are reminded that no computer system can be considered as safe from intrusion. Email may pass through many computer systems, and should not be considered a secure means of communication unless encrypted. Even then, information is only as secure as the encryption method.
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