Project Mutual Telephone

NETWORK PRACTICES AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT POLICY

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Online Version - Network Practices and Traffic Management 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 PROJECT MUTUAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC. ("PMT"), regarding network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms are provided in entirety so that PMT current customers, prospective customers, third-party content providers and other interested parties can make informed choices regarding the broadband Internet access services offered by PMT, and the extent PMT's network management practices may affect those services.

Network Management Practices

In the interest of providing the best online experience possible for all of PMT customers, PMT utilizes reasonable network management practices tailored to achieve legitimate network management purposes. Because bandwidth is a limited resource for Internet service providers, it is essential that PMT reasonably manages its network to promote the use and enjoyment of the Internet by all of PMT customers. By engaging in reasonable and responsible network management, PMT 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 PMT are consistent with industry standards, and PMT does not monitor or inspect network traffic for non-network management purposes.

Congestion Management

PMT does not employ any congestion management tools, practices and/or software on network traffic.Instead, PMT uses an "open pipe" approach and undertakes best efforts to ensure a high-quality online experience for all of its customers. As a result, at times of heavy usage, customers may experience delays in downloading or uploading files or a sluggish Web surfing experience.

Application-Specific Behavior

PMT does not make use of any application-specific network management practices. PMT 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

In order for a device to be approved for use on the PMT's network, the device must conform to publicly available industry standards and be non-harmful to PMT's network and equipment. You can find information concerning the devices approved for use on the network at PMT's retail website, www.pmt.org.

Security

PMT offers its customers unrestricted access to all of the lawful content, services, and applications available on the Internet. PMT uses industry standard tools and generally accepted best practices and policies to protect our customers from spam, phishing, and other unwanted or harmful online content and activities. In the instances where these tools and policies identify online 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.

Performance Characteristics

PMT currently offers broadband Internet access service via Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL") and Fiber-to-the-home ("FTTH"). DSL is a wireline transmission technology that transmits data faster over traditional copper telephone lines already installed to homes and businesses. FTTH utilizes fiber optic cable to deliver telephone, data and video services. Fiber optic cables have the capacity for an indefinite amount of data and will allow subscribers to receive better quality voice, data and video services in their homes.

The advertised speed of PMT Internet service is the maximum speed achievable with the technology utilized by PMT. While the maximum advertised speed is attainable for end users, several factors may affect the actual speed of PMT's Internet service offerings, including, but not limited to: the distance of the consumer's home or office from PMT'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. The actual speeds achieved with PMT's Internet service offering make PMT's Internet service suitable for real-time applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP"). PMT does not offer any specialized services. Customers can verify speeds using a variety of third-party websites, such as www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/about/ (as of November 20, 2011), to measure the provisional speeds of PMT's broadband service. Such third-party websites are not affiliated with PMT and the company does not make any guarantee as to the accuracy of test results obtained through those third-party sites.

The actual speeds achieved with PMT's Internet service offering make PMT's Internet service suitable for real-time applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP"). PMT does not offer any specialized services.

Commercial Terms

Pricing

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

To see PMT's current promotions and pricing on services we offer, please visit our website www.pmt.org or call (208) 436-7151 to speak with a customer service representative.

Usage-Based Fees

PMT's Internet service is priced on a flat-fee basis (plus taxes). PMT does not charge end users a usage-based fee for Internet service.

Privacy Policy

The various network management tools and techniques utilized by PMT do not monitor, inspect or store the network activity and traffic of its Internet service users. Further, as part of its network management practices, PMT does not distribute information on network activity and/or traffic to any third party, or use network traffic information for any non-network management purpose.

PMT affords full access to all lawful content, services and applications available on the Internet. However, PMT reserves the right to monitor bandwidth, usage, transmissions and content for purposes of protecting the integrity of the network and PMT's Internet access service through reasonable network management practices.

PMT may collect equipment information to identify the equipment customers are using on the network, including, but not limited to: equipment type, serial number, settings, configuration and software. PMT 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 PMT is done so for the sole purpose of reasonable network management purposes.

PMT 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 PMT determines, in its sole discretion, that such a disclosure is necessary or required. PMT 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 PMT network management practices as discussed herein are intended solely to provide the best online experience possible for all of PMT's customers by safeguarding our network and its users from spam, viruses, phishing, and other unwanted or harmful online content and activities. PMT'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 PMT's network management practices are encouraged to contact PMT for issue resolution.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding PMT's Network Practices and Traffic Management Policy or would like to file a complaint with PMT regarding its network management practices, please contact PMT at:

PROJECT MUTUAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 366
Rupert, Idaho 83350

Phone:  (208) 436-7151     (208) 878-7151      (208) 933-7151     
Toll-Free:  (800) 322-4074
Email: pmt@pmt.org
Website: www.pmt.org

Additional Disclaimers

The Open Internet Rules, as adopted, and PMT's Network Practices and Traffic Management 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 PMT's Network Practices and Traffic Management Policy do not prohibit PMT from making reasonable efforts to address the transfer of unlawful content or unlawful transfers of content.

For additional information, please review PMT's Acceptable Use Policy at: www.pmt.org/aup

From time to time PMT may review our Network Practices and Traffic Management Policy to make sure that all subscribers are getting the very best from their services. Any changes will be published on our website at www.pmt.org/terms and added to the policy document. We reserve the right to modify our Network Practices and Traffic Management Policy at any time, without prior notice and solely at our own discretion.

This Network Practices and Traffic Management Policy forms part of PMT's Terms and Conditions.

Last Modified: 11/17/11