Shentel Business Acceptable Use Policy

Shentel’s goal is to provide its customers with the best commercial Internet service possible. In order to help accomplish this, Shentel has adopted this Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”).  This AUP is designed to protect the security, reliability, and integrity of Shentel’s network while ensuring compliance with industry standards. This AUP outlines acceptable use of Shentel’s Business Internet service, including Shentel Business provided Voice services (including Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP services), Ethernet services, and other Internet-based communications services (each and collectively, the “Service”). This AUP is in addition to any other restrictions contained in any applicable terms and conditions or other agreements for small business or enterprise business services. All capitalized terms used in this AUP that are not defined here have the meanings given to them in the applicable services agreements or Master Service Agreements, as applicable (each and collectively, “Business Services Agreements”). By using or accessing our Services, our business customers (“Users”) agree to comply with this AUP and acknowledge that they are subject to any applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Shentel reserves the right to modify this AUP at any time, and such modifications will become effective upon posting to our website. Continued use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

1.    Permitted and Prohibited Uses

1.1  Permitted Uses

Users may use Shentel’s Services for lawful and authorized purposes consistent with the intended scope of the Services as expressly granted in Shentel’s Business Services Agreements. 

1.2  Prohibited Uses

In general, the AUP prohibits uses and activities involving the Service that are illegal, infringe the rights of others, or interfere with or diminish the use and enjoyment of the Service by others.  Users are prohibited from using the Services as delineated below in this Section 2.2 of the AUP.

Conduct and Information Restrictions.

Users may not:

  • Violate any applicable local, state, or federal laws or regulations or undertake or accomplish any unlawful purpose. This includes, but is not limited to, posting, storing, transmitting or disseminating information, data or material which is libelous, obscene, unlawful, threatening or defamatory, or which infringes the intellectual property rights of any person or entity, or which in any way constitutes or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, or otherwise violate any local, state, federal, or non-U.S. law, order, or regulation.
  • Post, store, send, transmit, or disseminate any information or material which a reasonable person could deem to be unlawful.
  • Upload, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, create derivative works of, or distribute in any way information, software or other material obtained through the Service or otherwise that is protected by copyright or other proprietary right, without obtaining any required permission of the owner.
  • Harm or disrupts the Shentel Business network or any third-party network.
  • Engage in unauthorized access, hacking, or other activities intended to compromise the security of systems, data, or users.
  • Distribute malicious software (e.g., viruses, worms, Trojan horses) or engages in activities like phishing or denial-of-service attacks.
  • Transmit any unsolicited bulk or commercial messages (spam), fraudulent content, or deceptive marketing.
  • Collect responses from unsolicited bulk messages.
  • Send large numbers of copies of the same or substantially similar messages, empty messages, or messages which contain no substantive content, or send large messages or files that disrupts a server, account, blog, newsgroup, chat, or similar service.
  • Infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, including copyrights and trademarks, in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
  • Initiate, perpetuate, or in any way participate in any pyramid or other illegal scheme.
  • Use IRC (Internet Relay Chat) or other chat services or tools to flood chats, or use unattended clones, bots, or other automated programs to engage in chat.
  • Falsify, alter, or remove message headers or falsify references to Shentel or its network, by name or other identifier, in messages.
  • Impersonate any person or entity, engage in sender address falsification, forge anyone else’s digital or manual signature, or perform any other similar fraudulent activity.
  • Participate in the collection of large numbers of email addresses, screen names, or other identifiers of others (without their prior consent), a practice sometimes known as spidering or harvesting, or participate in the use of software designed to facilitate this activity.
  • Hosts or distributes offensive, abusive, or illegal content, including content related to harassment, hate speech, or exploitation.
  • Violate the rules, regulations, terms of service, or policies applicable to any network, server, computer database, service, application, system, or web site that you access or use.

       

Technical Restrictions

        Users may not:

  • Access any other person’s computer or computer system, network, software, or data without that person’s knowledge and consent; or breach the security of another user or system; or attempt to circumvent the user authentication or security of any host, network, or account. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing data not intended for your business, logging into or making use of a server or account your business is not expressly authorized to access, or probing the security of other hosts, networks, or accounts without express permission.
  • Use or distribute tools or devices designed or used for compromising security or whose use is otherwise unauthorized, such as password guessing programs, decoders, password gatherers, keystroke loggers, analyzers, cracking tools, packet sniffers, encryption circumvention devices, or Trojan Horse programs. Unauthorized port scanning is strictly prohibited;
  • Copy, distribute, or sublicense any proprietary software provided in connection with the Service by Shentel or any third party, except that your business may make one copy of each software program for back-up purposes only;
  • Distribute programs that make unauthorized changes to software (cracks);
  • Service, alter, modify, or tamper with the Shentel Equipment or Service or permit any other person to do the same who is not authorized by Shentel.

       

Network and Usage Restrictions.

        Users may not:

  • Restrict, inhibit, compromise, or otherwise interfere with the ability of any other person, regardless of intent, purpose or knowledge, to use or enjoy the Service (except for tools for safety and security functions or tools implementing authorized internal business policies).
  • Restrict, inhibit, compromise, interfere with, or otherwise disrupt or cause a performance degradation, regardless of intent, purpose or knowledge, to the Service or any Shentel (or Shentel supplier) host, server, backbone network, node or service, or otherwise cause a performance degradation to any Shentel (or Shentel supplier) facilities used to deliver the Service.
  • Make the Service available to any third party unless done with Shentel’s written approval in accordance with applicable Business Services Agreements. It is not a violation of this AUP for a User to make the Service available to its authorized employees, contractors, or customers (i.e., the public, customers of an establishment, hotel or motel guests and patrons, or persons in a residence hall or apartment building) if permitted in a Business Services Agreement.
  • Resell the Service or otherwise make available to anyone outside the Service Location(s) the ability to use the Service, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, unless expressly permitted by the applicable Business Services Agreement.
  • Connect the Shentel Equipment to any computer outside of your business' Service Location(s).
  • Interfere with computer networking or telecommunications service to any user, host or network.
  • Interfere with Shentel's ability to control or block ports for safety and security purposes and as part of its overall network management.
  • Interfere with Shentel's use and control of its domain name server ("DNS") used in connection with the Service.
  • Access and use the Service with anything other than a dynamic Internet Protocol ("IP") address that adheres to the dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP"), unless otherwise expressly permitted by the applicable Business Services Agreement.

2.     User Responsibilities

In addition to being responsible for its own compliance with this AUP, your business is also responsible for any use or misuse of the Service that violates this AUP, even if it was committed by an employee, contractor, customer, or guest with access to your Service account. Your business is solely responsible for the security of any device (including data on those devices) it chooses to connect to the Service. Your business is responsible for securing the User-provided Equipment and any other Service Location(s) equipment or programs not provided by Shentel that connect to the Service from external threats such as viruses, spam, bot nets, and other methods of intrusion.

To further ensure the integrity of the Services, Users are responsible for:

  • Securing all devices connected to the Services, including implementing antivirus software and maintaining up-to-date operating systems.
  • Protecting login credentials and account information to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Complying with any technical requirements specified by Shentel to maintain network compatibility and performance.
  • Reporting any security incidents or misuse of the Services immediately to Shentel.

3.     Monitoring and Enforcement

Shentel reserves the right to refuse to transmit or post, and to remove or block, any information or materials, in whole or in part, that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be in violation of this AUP, or otherwise harmful to Shentel's network or customers using the Service, regardless of whether this material or its dissemination is unlawful so long as it violates this AUP. Neither Shentel nor any of its affiliates, suppliers, or agents have any obligation to monitor transmissions or postings made on the Service. However, Shentel and its affiliates, suppliers, and agents have the right to monitor these transmissions and postings from time to time for violations of this AUP and to disclose, block, or remove them in accordance with this AUP, the Business Services Agreement, and applicable law.

Shentel provides the Service for use in your business. Most everything your business does using the Service will be directly attributable to it and affect its reputation. However, because Shentel provides the systems to deliver the Service, your business can do things using the Service that are directly attributable to Shentel and affect its reputation. Most obviously, if your business uses the Service to send spam (or what spam reporting services or recipients classify as spam) these activities may affect Shentel's reputation because of its ownership of the IP addresses associated with the Service. These activities also violate this AUP.

Shentel reserves the right to suspend or terminate Service accounts when your business' use of the Service or any of its features negatively impacts Shentel's reputation as determined in its sole discretion. Any use of the Service or its features that results in your business' Service account, or any associated Shentel information, being listed on spam reporting web sites or anti-phishing or anti-spyware services, may result in Shentel suspending or terminating your business' Service account. In these situations, Shentel prefers to work directly with your business to address the problems causing the harm to Shentel's reputation so that they do not happen again.

Shentel reserves the right to:

  • Monitor network activity to ensure compliance with this AUP and to protect the integrity of our Services.
  • Investigate any suspected violations of this AUP or misuse of the Services.
  • Restrict, suspend, or terminate access to the Services in the event of a violation of this AUP.
  • Report any unlawful activity to appropriate authorities and cooperate fully with legal investigations.

Shentel is not liable for any damages or losses incurred due to the enforcement of this AUP or termination of Services resulting from non-compliance.  Any lack of monitoring and/or enforcement on the part of Shentel Business should not be interpreted to be a waiver of any legal right that Shentel Business has to monitor and/or enforce any provision set forth in this AUP now or in the future.

4.     Requirements for Electronic Mail Service

The Service may not be used to communicate or distribute email or other forms of communications in violation of this AUP. Shentel uses reasonable network management tools and techniques to protect customers from receiving spam and from sending spam (often without their knowledge over an infected computer). 

Shentel is not responsible for deleting or forwarding any email sent to the wrong email address(es) by your business or by someone else trying to send email to your business or its employees, contractors, or users. Shentel is also not responsible for forwarding email sent to any account that has been suspended or terminated. In the event that Shentel believes in its sole discretion that any subscriber name, account name, or email address (collectively, an "identifier") on the Service may be used for, or is being used for, any misleading, fraudulent, or other improper or illegal purpose, Shentel (i) reserves the right to block access to and prevent the use of any of these identifiers and (ii) may at any time require any customer to change his or her identifier. In addition, Shentel may at any time reserve any identifiers on the Service for Shentel's own purposes. 

Shentel may limit the storage of messages on Shentel's systems to a specified number of days and may set an upper limit on the size and/or number of messages that you may send or receive through the Service. Neither Shentel nor any of its suppliers shall have any liability for the deletion of, or failure to store, messages or of the mis delivery of, failure to deliver, or the untimely delivery of messages.

Shentel's servers and other systems employ various virus detection and prevention tools that it updates frequently to respond to the latest threats on the Internet. This applies both to emails your business sends as well as to emails your business receives. Shentel's systems also may scan all incoming and outgoing email traffic over the Service using automated tools applying recognized and commonly used techniques for identifying other unwanted or harmful code or content. However, users are responsible for securing their computer and network equipment, such as wireless routers, so that they are not subject to external threats such as viruses, spam, and other methods of intrusion.

5.     Network Management

Shentel manages its network with one goal: to deliver the best possible broadband Internet experience to all of its customers. High-speed bandwidth and network resources are not unlimited. Managing the network is essential as Shentel works to promote the use and enjoyment of the Internet by all of its customers. The company uses reasonable network management practices that are consistent with industry standards. For information on how Shentel manages its network, please visit the Open Internet Disclosure found at the Terms and Conditions section of the www.shentel.com website.

6.     Data Consumption

The Service is for commercial use only in a small, medium, or large business as determined by the applicable Business Services Agreements. Therefore, Shentel reserves the right to suspend or terminate Service accounts where data consumption is not characteristic of a typical commercial user of the Service as determined by the company in its sole discretion, or where it exceeds published data consumption limitations. Common activities that may cause excessive data consumption in violation of this AUP include, but are not limited to, numerous or continuous bulk transfers of files and other high capacity traffic using (i) file transfer protocol ("FTP"), (ii) peer-to-peer applications, and (iii) user generated content sites. Your business must also ensure that its use of the Service does not restrict, inhibit, interfere with, or degrade any other person's use of the Service, nor represent (as determined by Shentel in its sole discretion) an overly large burden on the network. In addition, your business must ensure that its use of the Service does not limit or interfere with Shentel's ability to deliver and monitor the Service or any part of its network. If your business uses the Service in violation of the restrictions referenced above, that is a violation of this AUP and a breach of the Business Services Agreements. Shentel's determination of the data consumption for Service accounts is final.

7.     Violation of this AUP

Shentel reserves the right immediately to suspend or terminate your business' Service account and terminate the Business Services Agreements if it violates the terms of this AUP or the Business Services Agreements. Shentel has no obligation to monitor and does not routinely monitor the Service and/or the network. However, Shentel and its suppliers reserve the right at any time to monitor bandwidth, usage, data consumption, transmissions, and content in order to, among other things, operate the Service; identify violations of this AUP; and/or protect the network, the Service and Shentel users. Shentel prefers to inform Users of inappropriate activities and give them a reasonable period of time in which to take corrective action. Shentel also prefers to have Users directly resolve any disputes or disagreements they may have with others, whether Users or not, without Shentel's intervention. However, if the Service is used in a way that Shentel or its suppliers, in their sole discretion, believe violates this AUP, Shentel or its suppliers may take any responsive actions they deem appropriate under the circumstances with or without notice. These actions may include, the immediate suspension or termination of all or any portion of the Service. Neither Shentel nor its affiliates, suppliers, or agents will have any liability for any of these responsive actions. These actions are not Shentel's exclusive remedies and Shentel may take any other legal or technical actions it deems appropriate with or without notice.

Shentel reserves the right to investigate suspected violations of this AUP and examination of material on Shentel's servers and network. During an investigation, Shentel may suspend the account or accounts involved. Your business expressly authorizes and consents to Shentel and its suppliers cooperating with (i) law enforcement authorities in the investigation of suspected legal violations, and (ii) system administrators at other Internet service providers or other network or computing facilities in order to enforce this AUP. Upon termination of your business' Service account, Shentel is authorized to delete any files, programs, data, email and other messages associated with your business' account (and any secondary accounts).

The failure of Shentel or its suppliers to enforce this AUP, for whatever reason, shall not be construed as a waiver of any right to do so at any time. Your business agrees that if any portion of this AUP is held invalid or unenforceable, that portion will be construed consistent with applicable law as nearly as possible, and the remaining portions will remain in full force and effect.

8.     Copyright Infringement and DMCA Compliance

Shentel is committed to complying with U.S. copyright and related laws, and requires all Users of the Service to comply with these laws. Accordingly, your business may not store any material or content on, or disseminate any material or content over, the Service (or any part of the Service) in any manner that constitutes an infringement of third party intellectual property rights. Shentel complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (“DMCA”) that provides a process for copyright owners to communicate information about alleged infringements to us, and for us to inform our Users about them. Users may not upload, download, store, or share content that violates copyrights or other intellectual property rights.

Owners of copyrighted works who believe that their rights under U.S. copyright law have been infringed may take advantage of certain provisions of the DMCA to report alleged infringements. Your business may receive notices under the DMCA if a copyright owner identifies your business’ Service account as having been used in connection with acts of alleged copyright infringement.  Shentel, in accordance applicable laws, reserves the right to terminate the Service provided to any User who is either found to infringe third party copyright or other intellectual property rights, including repeat infringers, or who Shentel, in its sole discretion, believes is infringing these rights. Shentel may terminate the Service at any time with or without notice for any User. For more information, please visit Shentel’s DMCA policy at www.shentel.com/en/legal/digital_millenium_copyright_act.

9.        Contact Information

For questions regarding this AUP or to report violations, Users may contact Shentel at:

Phone:         1-800-SHENTEL
Address:      Shentel Business
                       Attn: VP, Legal/General Counsel
                       P.O. Box 459
                       500 Shentel Way
                       Edinburg, Virginia 22824