ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
 
For Customers > Acceptable Use Policy

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OUR ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY


Introduction
When you open your PatriotNet account, you join two communities. First is the community formed by our network and our customers; the second community is the one made up of all networks and users connected to each other to form the Internet. Becoming a member of these communities gives you certain rights and privileges, but also imposes certain duties and responsibilities. PatriotNet has established an Acceptable Use Policy in order to make these duties and responsibilities more clear. This document is intended to provide a general understanding of PatriotNet's Acceptable Use Policy. The following factors guide the establishment and enforcement of PatriotNet's usage policies:

  • Ensure reliable service to our customers
  • Ensure security and privacy of our systems and network, as well as the networks and systems of others
  • Comply with existing laws
  • Maintain our reputation as a responsible service provider
  • Encourage responsible use of the Internet and discourage activities which reduce the usability and value of Internet services
  • Preserve the value of Internet resources as a conduit for free expression and exchange of information
  • Preserve the privacy and security of individual users

PatriotNet intends to provide its customers access to everything the Internet has to offer. While PatriotNet is firmly committed to the principles of free speech, certain activities are damaging to the resources of both PatriotNet and the Internet and cannot be permitted under the guise of free speech. The resources of PatriotNet and the Internet are limited, and abuse of these resources by one user has a negative impact on the entire community.

We do not routinely monitor the activity of accounts except for measurements of system utilization and the preparation of billing records. 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.

If a PatriotNet account is used to violate the Acceptable Use Policy, we reserve the right to terminate your service without notice. We prefer to advise customers of inappropriate behavior and any necessary corrective action. However, flagrant violations of the Acceptable Use Policy will result in immediate termination of service. Our failure to enforce this policy, for whatever reason, shall not be construed as a waiver of our right to do so at any time.

As a member of our network community, you must use your Internet access responsibly. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact us at support@patriot.net.

General Information
Your PatriotNet account provides you access to a vast collection of networks and services around the world such as the World Wide Web, electronic mail, and newsgroups. Your use of these services is subject to the following policy. Violations of this policy may result in termination of your account with or without notice in accordance with the Agreement for Use of PatriotNet Internet Services that you accepted at the time you created your account.

In general, you may NOT use your PatriotNet account:

In a manner which violates any law, regulation, treaty or tariff;

In a manner which violates the rules, regulations and policies of any network, server, web site, database or service provider that you access through your PatriotNet account;

In a manner which is defamatory, fraudulent, indecent, offensive or deceptive;

To threaten, harass, abuse or intimidate others;

To damage the name or reputation of PatriotNet, its parent, affiliates and subsidiaries;

To break security on any computer network, or to access an account which does not belong to you; or

In a manner which interferes with other customers' use and enjoyment of the services provided by PatriotNet.

PatriotNet reserves sole discretion to determine whether any use of the service is a violation of this policy. Guidelines for using your account follows. This information is only a guideline, and is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Electronic Mail
Your PatriotNet account gives you the ability to send and receive electronic mail. Misuse of electronic mail may result in termination of service. The following examples are non-exclusive and are provided for your guidance.

You may not use your account to send unsolicited bulk or commercial messages ("spam"). This includes, but is not limited to, bulk mailing of commercial advertising, informational announcements, charity requests, petitions for signatures, and political or religious tracts. Such messages may only be sent to those who have explicitly requested it.

You may not use your account to collect responses from unsolicited bulk or commercial e-mail sent from accounts with other providers.

Forging, altering or removing electronic mail headers is prohibited.

You may not send numerous copies of the same or substantially similar message, nor may you send very large messages or files to a recipient, with the intent to disrupt a server or account ("mail bombing").

You may not use electronic mail to harass or intimidate others. Harassment, whether through language, frequency of messages, or size of messages, is prohibited. Sending a single unwelcome message may be considered harassment. If a recipient asks to stop receiving email, you must not send that person any further messages.

You may not forward or otherwise propagate chain letters, whether or not such messages solicit money or other items of value, and whether or not the recipient wishes to receive such mailings.

PatriotNet accounts may not be used to collect replies to messages sent from another Internet service provider if those messages violate this Acceptable Use Policy or the acceptable use policy of the other service provider.

If you use the services of another provider to promote a web site hosted by or through PatriotNet, then the provisions of this Acceptable Use Policy shall apply to the methods used to promote such site.

Extra E-mail Boxes
Your account with PatriotNet provides the option to purchase Extra E-mail Boxes service. All provisions of the Acceptable Use Policy apply to your use of Extra E-mail Boxes service; in particular, please note the Electronic Mail, Newsgroups, and Security section of this policy. Misuse of Extra E-mail Boxes service may result in the termination of your account
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As the primary account holder, you are responsible for all account activity. If a Secondary mailbox or mailbox alias is involved in a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy, your account, including all Secondary mailboxes and mailbox aliases may be terminated. A terminated account will result in lost e-mail and Internet access for all users of your account. Therefore, it is important that you make sure everyone you allow to use your account or a Secondary mailbox or mailbox alias understands all terms of this Acceptable Use Policy and the consequences of violations.

Security
You are responsible for any misuse of your account, even if the inappropriate activity was committed by a friend, family member, guest or employee. Therefore, you must take steps to ensure that others do not gain unauthorized access to your account. In addition, you may not use your account to breach security of another account or attempt to gain unauthorized access to another network or server.

Your password provides access to your account. It is your responsibility to keep your password secure.

Passwords must contain at least four characters. Your password should not be the same as your userid.

Sharing your password and account access with unauthorized users is prohibited. You should take care to prevent others from using your account since you will be held responsible for such use.

Attempting to obtain another user's account password is strictly prohibited, and may result in termination of service.

You must adopt adequate security measures to prevent or minimize unauthorized use of your account.

You may not attempt to circumvent user authentication or security of any host, network or account ("cracking"). 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 networks. Use or distribution of tools designed for compromising security is prohibited. Examples of these tools include, but are not limited to, password guessing programs, cracking tools or network probing tools.

You may not attempt to interfere with service to any user, host, or network ("denial of service attacks"). This includes, but is not limited to, "flooding" of networks, deliberate attempts to overload a service, and attempts to "crash" a host.

Users who violate systems or network security may incur criminal or civil liability. PatriotNet will cooperate fully with investigations of violations of systems or network security at other sites, including cooperating with law enforcement authorities in the investigation of suspected criminal violations.

Illegal Activity
Any activity on our network that is a violation of any state or federal law is a violation of this policy and will result in immediate termination of service. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Transmitting obscene materials
  • Intentionally spreading or threatening to spread computer viruses
  • Gaining or attempting to gain unauthorized access to any network, including PatriotNet's private network infrastructure
  • Accessing or attempting to access information not intended for you
  • Transmitting pirated software
  • Conducting or participating in illegal gambling
  • Soliciting for pyramid and other illegal schemes.

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TECH SUPPORT POLICY

Free technical support includes basic troubleshooting of PatriotNet set up and connection problems by phone or email. Free technical support does not include on-site support, replacement of products, extended technical advice regarding hardware or operating system errors or failures, or training on how to use internet-related programs or sites. Extended services are available for a reasonable service fee.

Priority support will be given to business customers; residential customers will be helped on a first come, first serve basis. If you are asked to leave a message, we will provide a return call within one hour of your request for assistance whenever possible. Be sure to provide your name, username and phone number when leaving a message.

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