Terms and Conditions
By using our Web site and subscribing to one or more of our “Services”, You agree to our collection and use of Your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. If we change our privacy policy and procedures, we will post these changes on our website at https://www.wwt.net. Your continued use of this site following the posting of any changes to these terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.
1. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom places a high value on personal privacy and therefore, will not share or sell Your personal account information collected online, with third parties, other than to West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom, or to trusted vendors which include payment processors, content providers, shipping vendors and the like who perform these essential functions on behalf of West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom. Information collected may include name, address, voice number, personal computer specifications and billing information such as a credit card number if required for service. The information collected is used to provide a tailored service to You in order to better manage Your account. This may include responding to Your requests and communicating with You electronically. In addition, West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom may collect information about You from our trusted vendors, such as updated delivery and address information, so that we can correct our records and deliver Your purchases or communicate with You more efficiently.
2. Disclosure of personal information may, however, be necessary in very special circumstances, such as when West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom in good faith believes that disclosure is required under the law or in order to protect our legal rights.
3. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom has no obligation to monitor the Service but may do so and may disclose information regarding Customer’s use of the Service and Customer information to satisfy laws, regulations or governmental requests; to operate the Service properly; and to protect itself and its customers.
4. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom can only protect the privacy of information it collects and is not responsible for the practices employed by Web sites linked to or from our Web site nor for the content contained therein. The Web sites and services You are able to access on the Internet are outside the control and limits of this privacy policy. Any information You provide to these organizations is at Your own risk.
5. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom has gone to great lengths and made all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the security of our servers in order to prevent the loss, misuse, and modification of the information we control. Even though these steps have been taken, we can not guarantee that “hackers” will not obtain access to the information on these servers.
6. It is West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom policy to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and all other applicable laws relating to children’s privacy.
7. If You do not want West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom to use Your personal information to contact You for marketing or solicitation purposes (excluding notices about new product rollouts, upgrades to service, billing related issues or Your existing account), You may make this request to: removemyname@wwt.net.
This section of Your User agreement details some of the basic rules of participation in the Internet community and constitutes part of our terms of Service. By Your use of the Service, You agree to be bound by the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24- 7 Telcom reserves the sole and unconditional right to refuse, suspend or terminate Service to anyone who violates these rules as determined by West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom, in its sole discretion.
1. Illegal Use – You agree not to use the Service for or in the pursuit of illegal purposes. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom cooperates with local and federal authorities in investigations into illegal Internet use, and will take both criminal and civil legal action against Users who are determined to be using the Service in an unlawful way. You agree not to directly or indirectly allow a third party to use the Service in an illegal or unsuitable manner.
2. Harassment – You agree not to use the Service for harassment, threats, verbal abuse, and persistent unwanted contact of any kind. Harassment covers any use of the Service to directly or indirectly contact any other user (including users of another Internet service) in an unwanted fashion. Harassment can be active, in forms such as unwanted e-mail, chat messages, or verbal declarations on a public forum, or can be passive in the form of defamatory information posted on websites.
3. Disruption/Hacking – You agree not to make any attempt to disrupt or attack the systems or Services provided by West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom or any third party. This includes any deliberate attempt to interfere with another user’s ability to take advantage of services offered online. This also includes any effort to secure access to hardware and services without the consent of the provider of those services. Hackers will be subject to the full extent of criminal law, and West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom reserves the right to seek damages or legal recourse against Users who abuse, attack, or hack their systems, servers, or Services.
4. Fraud/False Advertising – You agree not to post or transmit fraudulent information on or through the Service. This can include false advertising, identity theft, or misrepresentation of any kind including phishing, forged e-mail headers or fictitious e-mail addresses.
5. Unsolicited Advertising/Spamming – You agree not to post or transmit any unsolicited material through any active medium such as e-mail, chat, messaging, chain letters, advertisements, jokes, etc. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom does not tolerate unsolicited mass e-mailing (Spamming) of any kind, and the use of any of West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom’s Services for this purpose is strictly prohibited. Content falling in this category is defined by the receiving user’s desire to be contacted in the specified manner, so use good judgment if You are sending to mailing lists. You further agree not to collect or harvest account information without the expressed consent of those from whom You collect the information.
6. Disruptive Content – You agree not to post or transmit any disruptive content. Certain kinds of content broadcast or displayed on the Internet can generate a great deal of disruption and reaction from the Internet community as a whole. This can include, but is not limited to, material that is considered obscene, offensive, or extremely controversial. While West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom does not actively censor its Users, the reaction this material can generate can be expensive and time consuming, and as such makes the continued support of Users generating this kind of content of questionable business value to West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom. You understand and agree that West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom may suspend or terminate Your Service should Your usage result in significant complaint or constitute disruptive content, as determined by West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom in its sole discretion, from the Internet community at large.
7. Extended Connections and Multiple Logins – For Dialup services, You agree not to use the Service for extended periods of time or to login to an account more than one time simultaneously. You also agree not to use this Service in a standby or inactive mode. Use of programs intended to keep You online while Your computer is unattended is prohibited. This Service is intended for personal, periodic, and active use of the World Wide Web, e-mail, news groups, games and file transfers; You may stay connected so long as You are using the Service for this purpose. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom reserves the right to terminate the Service at any time if it determines You are using the Service for extended connections and multiple logins.
8. Use of Servers – You agree that You will not establish or operate a web server, e-mail server, FTP server, file server or run any other server applications and/or software providing server like functionality in connection with the Service without the knowledge and permission of West Wisconsin Telcom and 24-7 Telcom. Interpretation will be at the sole discretion of West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom.
9. Reselling or Reconfiguring the Service – You may not resell the Service or redistribute or reconfigure the Service to allow others to use the Service in an illegal, fraudulent or inappropriate manner. Interpretation will be at the sole discretion of West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom.
10. Copyright Infringement – West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects You to do the same. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom will terminate the account of any User who unlawfully transmits copyrighted material without a license or privilege to do so. West Wisconsin Telcom/ 24-7 Telcom will terminate such account after receiving proper notification by the copyright holder to our Copyright Agent, and if we have a good faith belief, in our sole discretion, that infringement has occurred. Our ability to terminate Your account is in addition to and not instead of any and all other remedies that we may have against You under the law.
11. If You believe Your work has been copied in any way that constitutes infringement, please provide our Copyright Agent with the following information: (a) An electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest; (b) A description of the copyrighted work that You claim has been infringed; (c) Identification of where the material (including the URL if possible) that you claim is being infringed is located; (d) Your address, voice number and e-mail address; (e) A statement by You that You have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law; and (f) A statement by You, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in Your notice is accurate and that You are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.
Our Copyright Agent for Notification of Claims of Copyright Infringement can be reached as follows.
By mail: PO Box 247, Menomonie, WI
By phone: 715-231-2000
By e-mail: abusewwt@wwt.net
12. Reporting Other Abuse: To report other abuse of this Acceptable Use Policy (other than copyright infringement) please e-mail us at ourpolicies@wwt.net.
I. THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR CUSTOMERS
a. The Company is a common carrier and provides access to facilities, services and equipment over which our Customers may transmit voice, data and other communications of their own choosing to interstate and international destinations.
b. The Company provides service on a 7 days per week, 24 hours per day basis to all destinations in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), and to those international destinations listed in the international rate sheets maintained at the Company’s office and on its website (see below).
c. The Company primarily resells to its Customers the interstate and international toll services of larger, facilities-based carriers. The Company endeavors to purchase these services at volume discounts, and to resell them to its Customers at lower rates than they would pay if they purchased service directly from the other carriers. However, resale also means that the Company has no control over outages and other service disruptions on the networks of the other carriers (see limitations of liability below).
d. The Company has customer care representatives available 8:00 A.M – 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday to assist its Customers with any questions or problems regarding its interstate or international toll services. A Company representative can be reached during these hours. See above for contact numbers.
II. CHARGES, BILLS AND PAYMENT FOR SERVICE
a. Service is provided and billed on a monthly basis, and will continue to be provided and billed until canceled by the Customer or terminated by the Company.
b. The rates and charges for the Company’s interstate and international toll services can be inspected during regular business hours. The rates and charges for the Company’s interstate and international toll services can also be inspected on its website at www.wwt.net.
c. The Company bills for its interstate and international toll services on usage based on initial first minute, then at 6 second increments thereafter. The Company will pass through to its Customers all applicable Federal, State and local taxes or surcharges (including sales, use excise, gross earnings, and gross income taxes), as well as surcharges to recover the Company’s contributions to applicable Federal or State funds (including funds for universal service, telecommunications relay service, local number portability, and voice number administration).
d. Payment for all bills rendered by the Company for its interstate and international toll service is due within 15 days after the bill is mailed by the Company to the Customer. If payment is not received by the Company within 30 days after rendition of a bill, a late charge of 1% will be applied to all amounts past due.
e. No late charge will be assessed upon properly disputed charges (see dispute procedures below).
f. The Company may require a Customer to make a deposit prior to or at any time after provision of service, not to exceed estimated charges for 2 months. Upon termination of service, the deposit will be credited to the Customer’s account and any credit balance will be refunded after all amounts due the Company have been paid.
III. OBLIGATIONS OF CUSTOMER
a. The Customer is responsible for the timely payment of all billed charges for services or facilities provided by the Company to the Customer, and for the payment of the Company’s reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if the Company is forced to retain an attorney to collect any of its billed charges from the Customer.
b. The Customer will not use the Company’s services in a manner that interferes unreasonably with the use of the services by one or more other Customers.
c. The Customer will not use the Company’s services in an abusive, illegal or fraudulent manner, nor alter or tamper with the Company’s connections or facilities.
d. The Customer will indemnify the Company against any and all liability, including reasonable counsel fees, arising from any claims against the Customer for libel, slander, or infringement of copyright or trademark in connection with any material transmitted by the Customer over the Company’s facilities, services or equipment.
IV. RESOLUTION OF BILLING DISPUTES
a. If the procedures of this section are followed, the Customer may withhold from payment the disputed portion of any bill pending resolution of the dispute.
b. Within 15 days of the bill date of a disputed bill, the Company must receive from the Customer an itemized statement in writing which identifies the disputed charges and reasonably explains the basis of the dispute. Failure to comply with this requirement shall mean the bill is deemed to be correct and all amounts are due and owing the Company.
c. The Company shall review the Customer’s statement, and shall issue a written initial determination within five days after its receipt of the Customer’s statement to set forth the Company’s proposed resolution of the dispute.
d. If the Customer is not satisfied with the Company’s proposed resolution, the Customer must advise the Company in writing within five days after the Customer’s receipt of the Company’s initial determination of the specific reasons for the dissatisfaction, and provide any additional information which Customer deems pertinent or relevant to the dispute.
e. Within five days after the Company’s receipt of additional information, the Company shall make its final determination and resolution based upon all documentation or information available to the Company.
f. If the Customer continues to withhold any disputed amount determined to be owed to the Company, the Customer’s account shall be deemed to be past due, and subject to termination.
V. LIMITATION OF THE COMPANY’S LIABILITY
a. The liability of the Company for damages resulting in whole or in part from mistakes, omissions, interruptions, delays, errors or other defects in the interstate or international toll services provided shall not exceed its billed charges for the defective call or calls.
b. Neither the Company nor its officers, agents or employees will be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages.
c. The Company shall not be liable for any interruption, failure or degradation of service due in whole or part to causes beyond its control, including, but not limited to: (1) acts of God, fires, flood or other catastrophes; (2) any law, order, regulation, directive, action or request of any instrumentality of the United States Government, or of any foreign, state or local government; (3) any national emergency, insurrection, riot, war, strike or labor difficulty; (d) any act or omission by any unrelated carrier or other entity affecting the facilities or equipment over which the Company’s services are provided; (5) any negligence by the Customer or defects or failures of the Customer’s equipment; and (6) any negligent acts or omissions of third parties…
VI. REFUSAL, TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF SERVICE
a. The Company may refuse service to a Customer that fails or declines to make a deposit requested by the Company, and may terminate service seven business days after written notice of termination is mailed to a Customer that fails or declines to increase a deposit in response to the Company’s request.
b. The Company may terminate service seven days after a written notice of termination is mailed to a Customer that has failed to pay a bill for more than 30 days after it was rendered, or that has failed to pay disputed charges determined to be owed to the Company via the Company’s billing dispute resolution procedures (see above) for more than seven days after the end of the dispute resolution proceeding.
c. The Company reserves the right to establish a credit limit for Customers or classes of Customers, and to suspend service to a Customer when the Customer reaches the applicable limit.
d. The Company may suspend or terminate service to a Customer immediately if the Company reasonably believes that the Customer or entities using the Customer’s account or facilities are using the Company’s services in a manner that:
(i) interferes with the use of the services by one or more other Customers; (ii) is abusive, illegal or fraudulent; (iii) damages the Company’s facilities or equipment; or (iv) places excessive capacity demands upon the Company’s facilities or service.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
West Wisconsin Telcom Cooperative
James L. Kusilek, Chief Executive Officer
Revised February 15, 2023
Backup Power Available for Voice Service
Many of today’s advanced home phone services require backup battery power to continue functioning during a power outage. Backup batteries are expected to last 8 hours on standby power. The backup battery should give you at least 6 hours of talk time, if you feel that is not enough you may purchase an additional battery from 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom.
What Your Battery Can – and Can’t – Do for You
The backup batteries for telephone service provided by 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom allows you to continue to use your voice services during a power outage. Without a backup battery or alternate backup source such as a generator, your fiber based voice service will not be able to make any calls, including emergency calls to 911. Your backup battery does not provide power to any services other than voice. Home security systems, medical monitoring devices, Internet and other equipment will not run on a voice service backup battery.
Instructions for Proper Care and Use of Your Battery
Environmental factors such as temperature can shorten your battery’s useful life. We recommend the location of your battery be kept above 41’F and below 104’F.
BY ACCEPTING THESE HOSTED COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS TERMS AND CONDITIONS, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BELOW. ALL SERVICE ORDERS AND SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
These Terms and Conditions (the “Agreement”) are entered into by and between West Wisconsin Telcom & 24-7 Telcom (“Provider”), and the customer purchasing products or services from Provider (“Customer”).
1. DEFINITIONS.
The following terms will have the meanings set forth below.
1.1 “Customer Data” means any data, information or other materials of any nature whatsoever provided to Provider by Customer or a User in the course of implementing or using the Services.
1.2 “Service Descriptions” means user manuals and other documentation relating to the Services that are made available to Customer by Provider in digital or hardcopy form, as updated from time to time.
1.3 “Service Fee” or “Service Fees” means the monthly or annual fees set forth in the Service Order to be paid by Customer to Provider as consideration for Provider’s provision to Customer of the Services, but does not include usage fees, taxes or regulatory fees or surcharges, which Customer must pay in addition to the Service Fees.
1.4 “Service Order” means an order for Services or products.
1.5 “Service Plan” means the monthly or annual subscription plan a Customer agrees to in the Service Order.
1.6 “Service Order Addendum” means a Service Order agreed to by Customer subsequent to the initial Service Order.
1.7 “Services” means the products or services that are being provided to Customer as described in the Service Order, including any Additional Services set forth in a Service Order Addendum accepted by Provider.
1.8 “Software” means any proprietary software owned by, licensed by or which Provider has a right to sublicense that is used in or used to provide the Services. “Software” includes, without limitation, any application that Provider makes available to the Customer for use on a mobile device.
1.9 “User” means a user of the software, client, mobile application or other web-based application, equipment, feature or functionality provided by Provider in conjunction with the Services.
2. SERVICES.
2.1 Generally. Provider will provide the Services set forth in an accepted Service Order subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Provider hereby grants Customer limited, 2 986346.10 revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable access to the Services for use by the number of Users set forth in the Service Order, for Customer’s own internal business purposes. Provider grants Customer a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use the Services Descriptions in connection with its use of the Services. Each Service Order will be subject to Provider’s acceptance, which will be deemed given if Provider thereafter provides the Services to Customer.
2.2 Conditions. Customer agrees that Provider’s obligations to provide the Services are expressly conditioned upon (a) Customer’s payment of the fees as and when due, and (b) Customer’s satisfaction of the technical requirements set forth in the Services Descriptions for the Services made available to Customer by Provider, as the same may be updated by Provider from time to time.
2.3 Additional Services. Customer may request an increase in Users or additional Services at any time during the Term (any such increase, “Additional Services”) by submitting a Service Order Addendum setting forth the specific Additional Services desired. Each Service Order Addendum will be subject to Provider’s acceptance, which will be deemed given if Provider thereafter provides the Additional Services to Customer. Upon acceptance by Provider, such Service Order Addendum will be deemed an amendment to the Agreement, subject to all of the terms and conditions herein, and the Service Fees will be increased to reflect the Additional Services, subject to the same pricing and payment terms as are set forth in the Service Order or the Service Order Addendum as applicable.
3. TERM.
This Agreement will commence on the date Provider accepts the Service Order and will continue for the period of time specified in the Service Order (the “Initial Term”), unless either party provides the other party, at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Initial Term or applicable Renewal Term, with written notification. The Initial Term and any Renewal Terms are collectively the “Term”.
4. TERMINATION.
4.1 Early Termination by Customer. If Customer terminates the Agreement, or some of the Services provided under the Agreement, before the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term (the “Terminated Term”), Provider will charge Customer, and Customer will pay, an early termination charge equal to 100% of the monthly Service Fee for the terminated Services, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the Terminated Term on the date of termination. The early termination charge is in addition to the full monthly Service Fee payable for the month of, and months prior to, termination. Provider will also charge Customer, and Customer will pay, (a) any unpaid recurring or non-recurring charges waived by Provider at the beginning of or during the Terminated Term, and (b) the difference between the MSRP and the price paid by Customer for any equipment purchased at the beginning of or during the Terminated Term. If Customer or its User transfers or ports its phone number to a service provider other than Provider, Customer must also contact Provider to terminate the Services provided to Customer by Provider.
4.2 Termination by Provider. (a) Provider is entitled, at its sole discretion, to suspend, terminate or change the Services without advance notice upon any misuse of the Services in any way, Customer’s breach of the Agreement, Customer’s failure to pay any sum due hereunder, suspected fraud or other activity by Customer or a User that adversely affects the Services, Provider, Provider’s network or another customer’s use of the Services. Provider will be entitled to determine, at its sole discretion, what 3 986346.10 constitutes misuse of the Services, and Customer agrees that Provider’s determination is final and binding on Customer. Provider may require, and if required, Customer will pay, an activation fee as a condition to changing or resuming a terminated or suspended account. (b) Provider is entitled to terminate any affected portion of the Services if: (i) Provider is prohibited by law from providing such portion of the Services; or (ii) any material rate or term contained herein and relevant to the affected Services is substantially changed by or as a result of any regulation or order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), any other local, state or federal government authority, or any carrier or Internet service provider. (c) Upon termination of this Agreement under this Section 4.2, Customer will be responsible for the full monthly Service Fee for the month in which termination occurs, in addition to any accrued but unpaid usage and other charges.
5. FEES, BILLING AND TAXES.
5.1 Payment of Service Fees. Customer will pay the Service Fees for Services ordered by Customer, and all other amounts due under the Agreement, pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.
5.2 Credit. The provision of Services is contingent upon establishment of and continuing credit approval by Provider. Customer hereby consents to Provider’s procurement of a credit score or report regarding Customer. At any time during the Term, Provider is entitled to require a deposit or other acceptable form of security from Customer, as it deems appropriate. In addition, if requested by Provider, Customer agrees to provide, within two (2) business days of request, appropriate financial records to evaluate Customer’s continuing ability to pay. Provider may, immediately and without notice, suspend or terminate the Services if Customer fails to comply with these security obligations. Upon a payment default by Customer not cured in a timely manner, Provider will have the right to offset against any security or deposit held any amounts owed to Provider by Customer, and to invoice and collect all other amounts owed.
5.3 Billing. Provider will provide Customer with a monthly billing statement for the Services provided each calendar month and bill all charges invoiced to Customer’s account. Such charges will include monthly service fees, storage charges, activation charges, equipment charges, toll charges, shipping charges, taxes, regulatory recovery fees and any other applicable charges. Monthly Service Fees will be paid in advance of each month’s service; any variable charges associated with usage and any other applicable charges associated with such usage shall be billed in arrears. Billing for monthly Service Fees commences upon ordering of the Services, and monthly Services Fees will be billed in the months in which such Services commence. Customer agrees to provide Provider with complete and accurate contact and payment information, which may include Customer’s credit card information, and Customer agrees to advise Provider of any changes thereto. To the extent Customer’s payment method is by credit card, Customer authorizes Provider to charge Customer’s credit card automatically to pay for Customer’s charges. If a charge to Customer’s credit card is declined or reversed, or if the account or credit card has expired or been suspended or closed, or if Customer fails to provide Provider with accurate or complete credit card information, Provider may suspend or terminate the Services.
5.4 Late/Non-payment. If any charges for the Services are due but unpaid for any reason, Provider may suspend or terminate the Services and all accrued charges will be immediately due, plus a late fee of 1.5% per month. A fee may also be charged to activate a suspended or terminated account. No suspension or termination of the Services or of this Agreement will relieve Customer from paying any amounts due hereunder.
5.5 Taxes. All Service Fees and other charges are exclusive of any taxes, surcharges, public utility fees and regulatory fees (including, without limitation, Universal Service Fees and E911 taxes). Such taxes and fees will be billed by Provider and paid by Customer. Taxes and regulatory fees may increase during the Term, and Customer will pay such increased fees commencing with the next monthly bill. Should Customer claim an exemption of any taxes or regulatory fees, Customer must provide official documented and certified proof of such exemption. In no event will Provider be liable for any taxes due by Customer or its User, and Customer will defend, indemnify and hold harmless Provider if any claim for taxes or fees is made. If any amounts paid for the Services are refunded by Provider, applicable taxes and regulatory fees may not be refundable.
5.6 Regulatory Recovery Fee. A regulatory recovery fee may be charged monthly to offset costs incurred by Provider in complying with inquiries and obligations imposed by federal, state and municipal regulatory authorities and the related legal and billing expenses. This fee is not a tax or charge required or assessed by any government. The regulatory recovery fee will apply to every phone number assigned, including toll free and virtual numbers. The regulatory recovery fee may increase during the Term, and Customer will pay such increased fee commencing with the next monthly bill.
5.7 Service Fee Changes. Provider may change the Service Fees, the types of Service Plans and any additional usage charges without advance notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Service Fees agreed upon in Customer’s Service Order will not be increased during the Initial Term. With respect to any Renewal Term, the Customer will be charged Provider’s then-current Service Fees in effect at the commencement of the Renewal Term.
5.8 Availability. Customer acknowledges and agrees that the Services may not be available 100% of the time. Additionally, Services will not be available in the event of interruption in Customer’s or its User’s internet or broadband service. Provider will not credit Customer for any interruptions in Service.
5.9 Discounts. From time to time in its sole discretion, Provider may offer promotions or discounts. Any promotion or discount codes must be provided to Provider upon purchase of the Services. Customer will not be entitled to a subsequent credit for such promotions or discounts if not requested at the time of account creation or change of Service. Promotions and/or discounts may not be used cumulatively or be used for Services retroactively.
5.10 Billing Disputes. Customer must dispute any charges for the Services in writing to billing@wwt.coop within thirty (30) days of the date of the charge by Provider, or Customer waives any objection and further recourse with regard to such charges. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Customer shall pay all undisputed charges in accordance with this Agreement.
5.11 Usage Charges. Every call using the Services that originates or terminates in the Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”), including without limitation other VoIP networks, accrues applicable toll charges. Customer will not be charged for monthly usage within the limits of its then current Service Plan. Calls to phone numbers outside the lower 48, United States and Canada will also be charged to the Customer in accordance with the applicable Service rates.
6. TELEPHONE NUMBER.
Any telephone number provided by Provider (“Number”) to the Customer will be leased and not sold. Provider reserves the right to change, cancel or move the Number should Provider reasonably determine, its sole discretion, that it is required to do so as a result of its agreements with its underlying services providers or for other business purposes related to the provision of the Services.
7. PRIVACY.
The Services use the public Internet and third-party networks to transmit voice communications and data. Provider is not liable for the interception, use or disclosure of Customer’s or its User’s voice communications or data. Provider does not represent, warrant or covenant that the Services will maintain the privacy or security of Customer’s or its Users’ voice communications or data. Customer acknowledges and agrees that none of its Customer Data is considered “Customer Proprietary Network Information” under the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. Customer agrees that Provider is entitled to monitor Customer’s and Users’ use of the Services to protect, maintain, or improve the Services; to prevent fraud or misrepresentation by affirmative acts and/or omissions; to protect Provider, its customers or other third parties affiliated with Provider; or for any other good cause. If required by law, Customer will inform its Users that Provider may monitor the Users’ communications and store and use the Users’ personally identifiable information as necessary to provide the Services. For Provider’s Privacy Policy, please visit https://wwt.net/index.php/policies/.
8. LICENSE; PROHIBITED USES; CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES; LIMITATIONS.
8.1 Customer hereby grants to Provider a license to copy, store, record, transmit, display, view, print and use Customer Data, solely to the extent necessary to provide the Services to Customer. Except as expressly provided in this Section 8, Customer grants to Provider no right, title, interest, or license in the Customer Data. Customer represents and warrants that it has all necessary consents and rights to provide personally identifiable information about its Users to Provider, and Customer will provide such information upon reasonable request by Provider.
8.2 Customer represents and warrants that it will not use the Services for any illegal, fraudulent, improper, or abusive purpose or in any way that interferes with Provider’s ability to provide high-quality Services to other customers, prevents or restricts other customers from using the Services, or damages any of Provider’s or other customers’ property. If Provider discovers use of the Services for anything other than the permitted uses in this Agreement or for any of the prohibited uses in this Agreement, Provider may at its sole discretion terminate or suspend all or part of Customer’s Services and charge any applicable fees for the Services used plus damages caused by such improper use. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to: (a) behavior that is illegal, obscene, threatening, harassing, defamatory, libelous, deceptive, fraudulent, malicious, infringing, tortious or invasive of another’s privacy; (b) sending unsolicited messages or advertisements, including e-mail, voice-mail, text messages or faxes (commercial or otherwise) (“spamming”), or otherwise sending bulk or junk e- mail, voice-mail, text messages or faxes; (c) harvesting or otherwise collecting information about others, including e-mail addresses, without their consent; (d) negligently, recklessly, knowingly or intentionally transmitting any material that contains viruses, time bombs, Trojan horses, worms, malware, spyware or any other programs that may be harmful or dangerous; (e) creating a false caller identity (“ID spoofing”) or forged e-mail/text message address or header, or otherwise attempting to mislead others as to the identity of the sender or the origin of any communication made using the Services; (f) transmitting any material that may infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate the foreign or domestic intellectual property rights or other rights of third parties; (g) violating any U.S. or foreign law regarding the transmission of technical data or software exported through the Services; (h) using the Services in excess of what, in Provider’s sole discretion, would be expected of normal business use, including without limitation allowing more than one user to use a single VoIP line or using a single VoIP line in excess of what would be expected of a single user; (i) using the Services in 6 986346.10 any way that interferes with other customers’ and third parties’ use and enjoyment of the Services; (j) using or employing methods and/or devices that are designed or likely to take advantage of, bypass, exploit or otherwise avoid this use policy.
8.3 Customer understands and agrees that: (a) it will be solely liable for any transmissions sent through the Services under its account or its User’s account, including the content of any transmission sent through the Services under its account or its User’s account; (b) it will abide by all applicable Provider policies, procedures and agreements related to the Services; and (c) it will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Services, other accounts, computer systems or networks connected to the Services through password mining or any other means.
8.4 Some of Provider’s plans and other Services are offered on an “unlimited” basis. All unlimited plans: (a) may only be used for normal commercially reasonable business use; (b) are provided only for dialog between two individuals at one time per line; (c) are issued on a “one (1) user per line basis”, meaning that only one registered User may be assigned to use the Services for any one line; and (d) are subject to additional usage charges, including but not limited to such charges associated with international calling, in accordance with the then-current rates. Unlimited plans may not be used for any of the following prohibited uses (which are in addition to the other prohibited uses applicable to all Services): (i) trunking or forwarding a Provider Number to another phone number capable of handling multiple simultaneous calls, or to a private branch exchange (PBX) or a key system; (ii) spamming or blasting (e.g., sending bulk or junk voice-mails, e-mails, text messages or faxes simultaneously); (iii) bulk call-in lines (e.g., customer support or sales call centers, “hotlines”, 900 numbers, sports-line numbers, etc.); or (iv) autodialing or “predictive” dialing (i.e., non-manual dialing or using a software program or other means to continuously dial or place out-bound calls). In addition, unusually high usage of the Services may impair Provider’s ability to provide high-quality Services to others and/or indicate unauthorized use of the Services, in which case Provider may suspend or terminate Customer’s account or, upon prior notice, convert Customer’s account to a metered calling plan that charges significantly higher usage rates.
8.5 Customer must report any unauthorized use of the Services to Provider immediately after Customer discovers such use. Customer is responsible for all use of the Services, whether authorized or unauthorized. Customer will be responsible if any of its Users use the Services in a manner prohibited by this Agreement. Customer will be responsible for any act or omission of a User that would be a breach of this Agreement if done by Customer.
8.6 Customer acknowledges and agrees that the right to use any Services is nonexclusive and nontransferable, and Customer will not permit use of the Services other than for its internal business purposes. Nothing in this Agreement will pass to Customer or any User title to any of the Services, any trade names, trade dress, trademarks, service marks, commercial symbols, copyrightable material, designs, logos and/or any other intellectual property of Provider or its vendors. Customer will not challenge or attempt to register or otherwise protect any of Provider’s intellectual property or other rights in the Services.
8.7 Customer will not: (a) copy or adapt the Services for any purpose, except as specifically permitted under this Agreement; (b) use the Services except in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, and except as set forth in this Agreement; (c) reverse engineer, translate, decompile, or disassemble the Services; (d) use the Services in any outsourcing, application service provider, timesharing or service bureau arrangement, including, without limitation, any use to provide services or process data for the benefit of, or on behalf of, any third party other than a User; (e) cause or permit the disabling or circumvention of any security mechanism contained in or associated with the Services; or (f) delete, alter, cover, or distort any copyright or other proprietary notices or trademarks with respect to the Services.
8.8 Customer understands and accepts that, in order to protect Customer against fraudulent use of the Services, Provider may require Customer to contact Provider in order to enable calling to certain calling destinations.
8.9 Customer will execute such other documents, provide such other information, and affirmatively cooperate with Provider, all as may be reasonably required by Provider relevant to providing the Services.
9. USE AND STORAGE.
Provider reserves the right to establish or modify general practices and limits concerning use of the Services and Software, including, without limitation, the maximum number of days that content will be retained by the Service and the maximum disk space or bandwidth capacity that will be allotted on servers owned or operated by Provider on Customer’s behalf. Where practical, Provider will provide Customer with prior notice of such new or modified practices; provided, however, that Provider will have the absolute right to implement such new or modified practices without prior notice in its sole discretion and without liability of any kind.
10. ELECTRONIC RECORDING.
Customer agrees that there are federal and state statutes governing the electronic recording of telephone conversations and that Provider will not be liable for any illegal use of any recording services provided to Customer or its Users. It is Customer’s responsibility to determine if the electronic recordings are legal under applicable federal and state laws and to comply with those laws. Customer will defend, indemnify and hold harmless Provider for any claims, damages, fines, penalties or costs (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising out of Customer’s or its User’s failure to adhere to applicable electronic recording laws.
11. RESPONSIBILITY FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND CONTENT OF CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS.
Customer is solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of Customer’s account login information (including, without limitation, its Users’ account login information), and will not allow a third party to use the Services. Customer is solely responsible for any and all activities that occur under Customer’s account or its User’s account, including, without limitation, fraudulent use of the account. Customer and its Users must comply with laws regarding online behavior, acceptable content and the transmission of equipment and information under applicable export laws. Customer also agrees to comply with applicable local rules or codes of conduct (including, if applicable, codes of conduct or policies imposed by employers) regarding online behavior and acceptable content. Use of the Services is void where prohibited. Customer will immediately notify Provider of any unauthorized use of Customer’s account or its User’s account or any other breach of security related to Customer’s account, its User’s account or the Provider Services. Customer and each User must “log off” at the end of each session. Provider is not liable for any loss or damage arising from Customer’s or its User’s failure to comply with any of the foregoing obligations. In consideration for using the Provider Services, Customer will: (a) provide certain current, complete and accurate information about Customer and Users when prompted to do so by the Provider Services, and (b) maintain and update this information as required to keep it current, complete and accurate. Customer agrees that Customer is solely responsible for the content of all visual, written or audible communications (“Content”) sent, displayed or uploaded by Customer or a User in using the Services. Although Provider is not responsible for any such communications, Provider may reject or remove any Content that violates a law or this Agreement. Customer or the User retains copyright and any other rights already held in Content that Customer or the User submits, posts or displays on or through, the Services, or any music or ring-tones Customer or a User uses in connection with the Service. Customer understands and agrees that by displaying, exchanging or uploading Content to a Provider website, transmitting Content using the Services or 8 otherwise providing Content to Provider, Customer automatically grants (and warrants and represents that it has a right to grant) to Provider a world-wide, royalty-free, sub-licensable (so Provider affiliates, contractors, resellers and partners can deliver the Services) perpetual, irrevocable license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce and distribute the Content in the course of offering the Services, including, without limitation, on associated websites (“Sites”). Furthermore, Customer represents and warrants that it has all necessary consents and rights to transmit Content and other communications from its users to Provider. RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTENT OF OTHERS. Customer acknowledges that Users may violate one or more of the above prohibitions, but Provider assumes no responsibility or liability for such violation. If Customer becomes aware of misuse of the Services by any person, entity or organization, Customer agrees to contact Provider Customer Support at 888-247-2035 or systems@wwt.coop. Provider may investigate any complaints and violations that come to its attention and may take any action that it believes is appropriate, including, but not limited to, issuing warnings, removing the content or terminating accounts and/or User profiles. Under no circumstances will Provider be liable in any way for any data or other content available on a Site or actions taken while using the Services, including, but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any such data, content or activity or any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of, access to or denial of access to any data, content or activities on a Site. Provider does not endorse and has no control over what Users post, submit to or do on a Site. Customer acknowledges that Provider cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information submitted by any User of a Site, nor any personally identifiable information about any User. Provider reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject or remove content.
12. EMERGENCY 911 SERVICES.
12.1 Service Limitations. The FCC requires that Provider provide E911 Service to all Customers who use Provider Services within the United States. Sections 12.2-12.8 apply to all Customers who use Provider Services within the United States. Section 12.9 applies to all Customers.
12.2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND WARNING LABELS. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PROVIDER’S EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES DO NOT SUPPORT 911 EMERGENCY DIALING OR OTHER EMERGENCY FUNCTIONS IN THE SAME WAY THAT TRADITIONAL WIRELINE 911 SERVICES WORK. THE DIFFERENCES ARE DETAILED IN THIS SECTION 12, AND CUSTOMER AGREES TO NOTIFY ALL POTENTIAL USERS WHO MAY PLACE CALLS USING CUSTOMER’S SERVICES OF THE 911 LIMITATIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN. PRIOR TO THE INITIATION OF SERVICE, PROVIDER WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMER WITH WARNING LABELS REGARDING THE LIMITATIONS OR UNAVAILABILITY OF 911 EMERGENCY DIALING. CUSTOMER AGREES TO PLACE SUCH LABEL ON OR NEAR EACH TELEPHONE OR OTHER CUSTOMER-PREMISES OR USERPREMISES EQUIPMENT ON WHICH THE SERVICES MAY BE USED. IF ADDITIONAL LABELS ARE REQUIRED, CUSTOMER MAY REQUEST THEM FROM PROVIDER, AND PROVIDER WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LABELS. PROVIDER WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMER WITH ADVISORY NOTICES REGARDING 911 EMERGENCY DIALING AND REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM CUSTOMER. CUSTOMER WILL PROVIDE SUCH ADVISORY NOTICES TO ITS USERS. CUSTOMER AGREES TO RESPOND AND AFFIRMATIVELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PROVIDER HAS ADVISED CUSTOMER OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH E911 SERVICE MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE OR MAY BE LIMITED IN COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL 911 EMERGENCY DIALING. CUSTOMER WILL PROVIDE SIMILAR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FROM ITS USERS UPON REQUEST BY PROVIDER. PROVIDER ADVISES CUSTOMER AND USERS TO MAINTAIN AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF ACCESSING TRADITIONAL 911 SERVICES.
12.3 ELECTRICAL POWER. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SERVICES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION E911 SERVICE, WILL NOT FUNCTION IN THE ABSENCE OF ELECTRICALPOWER.
12.4 INTERNET ACCESS. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SERVICES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION E911 SERVICE, WILL NOT FUNCTION IF THERE IS AN INTERRUPTION OF CUSTOMER’S BROADBAND OR HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE.
12.5 NON-VOICE SYSTEMS. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE SERVICES ARE NOT SET UP TO FUNCTION WITH OUTDIALING SYSTEMS SUCH AS HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS, MEDICAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT, TTY EQUIPMENT, OR ENTERTAINMENT OR SATELLITE TELEVISION SYSTEMS. PROVIDER WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INTERRUPTION OR DISRUPTION OF SUCH SYSTEMS BY THE SERVICES.
12.6 E911 SERVICE. E911 SERVICE IS A MANDATORY COMPONENT OF ALL INBOUND/OUTBOUND TRADITIONAL FAX AND VOICE SERVICE PLANS. E911 SERVICE IS NOT OFFERED ON VIRTUAL NUMBERS, OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, ON TOLL- FREE NUMBERS OR ON SIMILAR SERVICE ACCESSORIES OR ADD-ON SERVICE PLANS. E911 SERVICE IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SELECTED AREAS. E911 SERVICE IS TIED TO THE CUSTOMER’S REGISTERED SERVICE ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASSIGNED PHONE NUMBER; CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PROVIDER WITH ADDRESS INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMER’S USERS. THE PROVIDER MOBILE APPLICATION USES THE DEVICE’S DIALER AND CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE TO MAKE 911 CALLS. IF A DEVICE DOES NOT HAVE CELLULAR TELEPHONE SERVICE, THEN THE USER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CALL 911 FROM THE PROVIDER MOBILE APPLICATION. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PROVIDER’S ONLY MECHANISM FOR ROUTING 911 CALLS TO THE CORRECT EMERGENCY CALL TAKER IS THE CUSTOMER’S OR USER’S REGISTERED SERVICE ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASSIGNED PHONE NUMBER. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES AND UNDERSTANDS THAT ANY ENHANCED LOCATION INFORMATION PASSED TO AN EMERGENCY OPERATOR BY PROVIDER WILL BE BASED UPON THE CUSTOMER’S OR USER’S REGISTERED SERVICE ADDRESS PROVIDED TO PROVIDER BY CUSTOMER. IN THE EVENT THAT THE REGISTERED SERVICE ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASSIGNED PHONE NUMBER IS INCORRECT, IS OUTDATED, OR IS NOT COMPLETE, A 911 CALL MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY.
12.7 E911 SERVICE CHARGE. CUSTOMERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO SUBSCRIBE TO PROVIDER E911 SERVICE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A MONTHLY E911 SERVICE CHARGE. THE MONTHLY E911 SERVICE FEE WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE APPLICABLE SERVICE FEES FOR THE ASSOCIATED LINE. THE MONTHLY CHARGE FOR PROVIDER E911 SERVICE IS ASSESSED ON A “PER-LINE” (THAT IS, PER PHONE NUMBER BASIS), AND WILL BE SET AT A LEVEL THAT REIMBURSES PROVIDER FOR THE DIRECT COSTS IT INCURS IN PROVIDING PROVIDER E911 SERVICE, INCLUDING EXPENSES PROVIDER INCURS, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE FORM OF STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL E911 SURCHARGES, E911 AUTOMATIC LOCATION INFORMATION (ALI) DATABASE STORAGE, LINE INFORMATION DATABASE AND CALLER ID (LIDB/CNAM) EXPENSES, AND ANY OTHER TAXES OR SURCHARGES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS SUBSCRIBING TO THIS SERVICE. PROVIDER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJUST THE LEVEL OF CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF E911 SERVICES TO REFLECT INCREASES OR DECREASES IN THE COSTS IT INCURS.
12.8 E911 CHARACTERISTICS. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PROVIDER E911 SERVICE HAS CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS THAT DISTINGUISH IT FROM TRADITIONAL, CIRCUIT-SWITCHED 911 SERVICE. THESE CHARACTERISTICS MAY MAKE PROVIDER E911 SERVICES UNSUITABLE FOR SOME CUSTOMERS OR USERS. BECAUSE CUSTOMER AND USER CIRCUMSTANCES VARY WIDELY, CUSTOMER SHOULD CAREFULLY EVALUATE ITS OWN CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO RELY SOLELY UPON PROVIDER E911 SERVICE. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS CUSTOMER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE THE TECHNOLOGY OR COMBINATION OF TECHNOLOGIES BEST SUITED TO MEET CUSTOMER’S AND ITS USERS’ EMERGENCY CALLING NEEDS, AND TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PROVISIONS FOR ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CALLING SERVICES (SUCH AS MAINTAINING A CONVENTIONAL LANDLINE PHONE OR WIRELESS PHONE AS A BACKUP MEANS OF COMPLETING EMERGENCY CALLS). THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS DISTINGUISH PROVIDER E911 SERVICE FROM TRADITIONAL, CIRCUIT-SWITCHED 911 SERVICE:
E911 SERVICE WILL NOT FUNCTION IF CUSTOMER’S OR ITS USER’S DTA, PHONE OR VIDEOPHONE FAILS OR IS NOT CONFIGURED CORRECTLY OR IF CUSTOMER’S OR ITS USER’S PROVIDER SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING FOR ANY REASON, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRICAL POWER OUTAGE, BROADBAND OR OTHER INTERNET SERVICE OUTAGE, OR SUSPENSION OR DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF BILLING OR OTHER ISSUES. IF THERE IS A POWER OUTAGE, CUSTOMER OR THE USER MAY BE REQUIRED TO RESET OR RECONFIGURE THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO USE THE PROVIDER SERVICE, INCLUDING FOR E911 PURPOSES. E911 SERVICE MAY NOT FUNCTION IF CUSTOMER OR A USER RELOCATES EQUIPMENT OR USES A NON-NATIVE TELEPHONE NUMBER, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON BEYOND PROVIDER’S CONTROL.
E911 SERVICE WILL NOT FUNCTION IF CUSTOMER’S OR ITS USER’S DTA, PHONE OR VIDEOPHONE FAILS OR IS NOT CONFIGURED CORRECTLY OR IF CUSTOMER’S OR ITS USER’S PROVIDER SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING FOR ANY REASON, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRICAL POWER OUTAGE, BROADBAND OR OTHER INTERNET SERVICE OUTAGE, OR SUSPENSION OR DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF BILLING OR OTHER ISSUES. IF THERE IS A POWER OUTAGE, CUSTOMER OR THE USER MAY BE REQUIRED TO RESET OR RECONFIGURE THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE BEING ABLE TO USE THE PROVIDER SERVICE, INCLUDING FOR E911 PURPOSES. E911 SERVICE MAY NOT FUNCTION IF CUSTOMER OR A USER RELOCATES EQUIPMENT OR USES A NON-NATIVE TELEPHONE NUMBER, OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON BEYOND PROVIDER’S CONTROL.
AFTER INITIAL ACTIVATION OF THE E911 SERVICE, AND FOLLOWING ANY CHANGE OF AND UPDATE TO CUSTOMER’S OR A USER’S PHYSICAL LOCATION, THERE MAY BE SOME DELAY BEFORE THE AUTOMATIC NUMBER AND LOCATION INFORMATION IS PASSED TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICE OPERATOR. THIS INFORMATION IS TYPICALLY POPULATED INTO PROVIDER’S NOMADIC E911 DATABASES PRIOR TO SERVICE ACTIVATION, BUT NO GUARANTEE CAN BE MADE THAT THE AUTOMATIC NUMBER AND LOCATION INFORMATION WILL BE ACTIVATED WITHIN THIS SCHEDULE.
THE LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICE OPERATOR RECEIVING PROVIDER E911 EMERGENCY SERVICE CALLS MAY NOT HAVE A SYSTEM CONFIGURED FOR E911 SERVICES OR BE ABLE TO CAPTURE AND/OR RETAIN AUTOMATIC NUMBER OR LOCATION INFORMATION. THIS MEANS THAT THE OPERATOR MAY NOT KNOW THE PHONE NUMBER OR PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE PERSON WHO IS MAKING THE PROVIDER E911 CALL. DUE TO TECHNICAL FACTORS IN NETWORK DESIGN, AND IN THE EVENT OF NETWORK CONGESTION ON THE PROVIDER NETWORK, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A PROVIDER 911 CALL WILL PRODUCE A BUSY SIGNAL, THE CALLER WILL 11 986346.10 EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED ANSWERING WAIT TIMES OR THE LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICE OPERATOR WILL TAKE LONGER TO ANSWER THE CALL THAN 911 CALLS PLACED VIA TRADITIONAL, CIRCUIT-SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORKS.
IF CUSTOMER OR ITS USER DOES NOT CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE ACTUAL LOCATION WHERE THE PROVIDER EQUIPMENT WILL BE LOCATED AT THE TIME OF ACTIVATION OF THE SERVICE, PROVIDER E911 COMMUNICATIONS MAY NOT BE DIRECTED TO THE CORRECT LOCAL EMERGENCY OPERATOR.
12.9 E911 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY. CUSTOMER AGREES THAT PROVIDER WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SERVICE OUTAGE OR INABILITY TO DIAL 911 OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER USING A PROVIDER SERVICE OR TO ACCESS OR REACH AN EMERGENCY SERVICE OPERATOR DUE TO THE 911 DIALING CHARACTERISTICS AND LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. CUSTOMER AGREES TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS PROVIDER, ITS OWNERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES AND AGENTS, AND ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER WHO FURNISHES SERVICES TO CUSTOMER OR A USER IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES, FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, ACTIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, FINES, PENALTIES, COSTS AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ATTORNEYS’ FEES) BY, OR ON BEHALF OF, CUSTOMER OR ANY THIRD PARTY OR USER OF THE SERVICE RELATING TO 911 DIALING OR THE INABILITY TO ACCESS OR REACH EMERGENCY 911SERVICES.
13. DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
PROVIDER DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR PERFORMANCE OR CUSTOM, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES, EQUIPMENT, AND ANY OTHER PROVIDER PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT PROVIDED HEREUNDER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, PERFORMANCE IN A WORKMAN-LIKE MANNER, COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, QUALITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR CURRENCY OF INFORMATION, SYSTEM INTEGRABILITY, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. PROVIDER DOES NOT REPRESENT, WARRANT OR COVENANT THAT THE PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT PROVIDED WILL OPERATE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR FREE OR WITHOUT DEGRADATION OR LOSS OF DATA, OR BE SECURE. NEITHER PROVIDER NOR ITS SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL BE LIABLE FOR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION, THEFT OR DESTRUCTION OF CUSTOMER’S OR A USER’S DATA FILES, PROGRAMS, PROCEDURES OR INFORMATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY SUCH DATA IN PROVIDER’S POSSESSION, CUSTODY OR CONTROL, THROUGH ACCIDENT, FRAUDULENT MEANS OR DEVICES, OR ANY OTHER METHOD, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH DAMAGE OCCURS AS A RESULT OF PROVIDER’S OR ITS SERVICE PROVIDER’S NEGLIGENCE. IN NO EVENT WILL PROVIDER OR ITS AFFILIATE, SERVICE PROVIDER, FACILITY OPERATOR OR CARRIER, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS, DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS (COLLECTIVELY, “PROVIDER PARTIES”) BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, ACTUAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY COST OF COVER OR LOST PROFITS OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR A PROVIDER PARTY’S PERFORMANCE OR NONPERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, A FAILURE OF OR A DEFECT IN THE SERVICES, EQUIPMENT OR ANY PRODUCT, A PROVIDER PARTY’S VIOLATION OF A THIRD PARTY’S RIGHT, OR A PROVIDER PARTY’S ACTS OR OMISSIONS. PROVIDER WILL NOT BE 12 986346.10 LIABLE FOR THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF, A FAILURE OF OR A DEFECT IN ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROVIDED BY, OR VIOLATION OF ANY THIRD PARTY’S RIGHTS BY ANY THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER, FACILITY OPERATOR OR CARRIER. THE PROVIDER PARTIES’ MAXIMUM TOTAL LIABILITY TO CUSTOMER WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY CUSTOMER TO PROVIDER IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE THE CLAIM ACCRUED. THE PROVIDER PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE IN ANY WAY TO ANY USER.
14. INDEMNIFICATION.
Customer will defend the Provider Parties, at Customer’s expense, against any third-party claim or action, and indemnify and hold harmless the Provider Parties from any and all losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, settlement obligations, costs, attorneys’ fees and other legal expenses related to such third-party claim or action, arising from or related to: (a) Customer’s breach of this Agreement or an agreement between Customer and a third party; (b) Customer’s violation, infringement or misappropriation of the third party’s intellectual property or other rights in Customer’s use of the Services; (c) Customer’s violation of the third party’s privacy, publicity, personality or other rights; (d) Customer’s fraud in use of the Services or fraud or misrepresentation regarding the nature or volume of Customer’s traffic; (e) Customer’s violation of an applicable law; (f) bodily injury, death or property damage to the extent such claim or action arises from the negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of Customer, or in the case where strict liability applies; (g) Customer’s business, acts or omissions; or (h) acts or omissions by Users that, if done by Customer, would constitute a breach of this Agreement. Customer will not settle any claim or action without Provider’s prior written consent. Provider will have the option, at its expense, to participate in the defense or settlement of the claim or action with counsel of its own choosing. If a conflict of interests arises or exists between the parties or if Provider has a good faith belief that its rights are being harmed by the counsel selected by Customer, Provider will have the right to retain separate counsel to represent its interests at Customer’s sole cost and expense. Customer will not settle any claim without Provider’s prior written consent.
15. EQUIPMENT.
15.1 Equipment Purchase. If Provider sells any equipment to Customer, the terms of this Section 15 apply. Provider’s liability for delivery will cease, and title (if applicable) and all risk of loss or damage will pass to Customer upon delivery to the common carrier for shipment. Customer shall be wholly responsible for insuring any products purchased from the time risk of loss or damage passes to Customer. Provider will pass through to Customer any warranty provided by the manufacturer of the equipment; PROVIDER MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY EQUIPMENT.
15.2 Equipment Return Policy. Customer will be required to obtain authorization from Provider to return any equipment. Equipment returned by Customer that is not covered under warranty or that does not bear a return authorization number may be refused. Provider will not replace lost, stolen or modified equipment. Customer must pay all shipping and handling charges related to any equipment returns not covered under warranty. All returned equipment must be unmodified, in good working condition. Provider may decline Customer’s return or charge Customer an additional fee for each missing item or for each item that Provider reasonably determines is modified, damaged or not in good working condition. Customer must delete all data files stored on returned equipment. Customer acknowledges that any data remaining on returned equipment cannot be recovered, and Customer releases Provider of any liability for any lost, damaged or destroyed files, data or other information.
16. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
The Services and Software, and all intellectual property therein, are and will remain the exclusive property of Provider. Provider reserves all rights not expressly granted under this Agreement. The Software may contain third-party software that is subject to the terms and conditions of third-party licenses. Neither Customer, Users nor any other third party has a right to inspect, possess, use, copy, or attempt to discover the source code of (or any portion of) the Software, except to the extent that Customer, a User or a third party is expressly permitted to decompile the Software under applicable law and Customer, the User or the third party notifies Provider in writing in advance of its intention to decompile the Software and its reason for doing so.
17. PORTAL UPGRADES; PHONE NUMBERS AND WEB PORTAL DISCONTINUANCE.
Provider may update the Customer and User portals, and Customer agrees that Service may be unavailable during the implementation of such updates. Upon expiration, cancellation or termination of the Services, Customer and Users will relinquish and discontinue use of any accounts, Numbers, voice mail access numbers, and/or web portal Sites assigned to Customer by Provider or its service providers
18. MISCELLANEOUS.
18.1 NOTICES. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, any notice required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement will be given in writing by overnight delivery service, sent via certified mail, return receipt requested, e-mailed, or delivered by hand, and such notice will be deemed to have been given and received when delivered or when delivery was refused, or with respect to electronic transmissions, at the time of transmission (unless the sender received a notice of transmission failure). Customer consents to receive all notices in electronic form, and Provider may send any notice to Customer at Customer’s latest physical address or e-mail address provided by Customer. Provider may, in addition to all other methods of giving notice, send any notice to Customer’s mailbox in Customer’s account on the Provider Customer Care Portal. Both parties agree that any agreements and notices made or provided by one or both parties in electronic form, and in accordance with this Agreement, are as legally binding as if made in physical written form. Customer must send all notices to Provider via e-mail in accordance with the following: To report misuse or fraudulent use of Service, submit a billing dispute, or terminate service please email billing@wwt.coop.
18.2 FORCE MAJEURE. Provider’s performance of any part of this Agreement will be excused to the extent that it is hindered by flood, fire, natural disaster, strike, riot, war, terrorism, hostile attack, governmental action, cable cuts, supplier shortages, breaches, or delays, Provider’s inability to perform as a result of actions or inactions of third parties, Customer, a User or Provider’s vendors, including, without limitation, Customer’s failure to provide or maintain a circuit with respect to an order for Service, or any other cause (whether similar or dissimilar to those listed) beyond Provider’s reasonable control (a “Force Majeure”). Provider may terminate the Services without liability if a Force Majeure hinders Provider’s performance for more than five (5) days.
18.3 NO CLASS ACTION. Customer irrevocably waives any right Customer may have to serve as a representative or as a private attorney general, or to participate as a member of a class of claimants, in any lawsuit, arbitration or other proceeding against any Provider Party arising from, related to or connected with this Agreement or any Service Order.
18.4 BINDING NATURE AND ASSIGNMENT. Customer’s rights and obligations in this Agreement will not be assigned, delegated or otherwise transferred in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Provider. Except as part of the sale of all or substantially of the assets for Provider or the assignment of this Agreement, or any rights or obligations thereunder, to any of Provider’s affiliates (which will not require Customer consent), Provider’s rights and obligations in this Agreement will not be assigned, delegated or otherwise transferred in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Customer, which will not be unreasonably withheld. For sake of clarity, Provider may assign, delegate and transfer some or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to its affiliates. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will bind, the heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators, successors and permitted assigns of Provider and Customer.
18.5 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and any related Service Orders will be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard to its conflict of law’s provisions. The U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods will not apply to this Agreement.
18.6 ARBITRATION. Any dispute or controversy arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any related Service Order, or otherwise related to the Services, will be resolved by binding arbitration. The Federal Arbitration Act and federal arbitration law applies to this Agreement. The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), conducted by one (1) arbitrator, and conducted in accordance with the AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will be conducted in Wisconsin. The language of the arbitration will be English. The parties’ briefs and other documents and the arbitrator’s findings and decision will be confidential unless required to be disclosed by law. Neither party may use any finding or decision of the arbitrator in existing or subsequent litigation or arbitration involving any other person, entity or organization. The arbitrator must have sufficient experience in the matter(s) at issue. The arbitrator’s decision will follow the plain meaning of the Agreement and will be final and binding. Neither party will have the right to appeal an error of law or fact. Each party will bear the cost of preparing and presenting its case. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. This agreement to arbitrate also requires Customer to arbitrate claims against other parties relating to Services or products provided or billed to Customer if claims are asserted against Provider in the same proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring suit in court to enjoin unauthorized access or trespass to its computer networks or any misappropriation, infringement or violation of its intellectual property rights. The arbitrator will have the exclusive power to rule on the formation, interpretation, applicability, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, including without limitation the validity or enforceability of this arbitration agreement. The arbitrator will not have the power to conduct any form of class or collective arbitration nor join or consolidate claims by or for individuals. If any dispute or controversy arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any related Service Order, or otherwise related to the Services, cannot lawfully be resolved by arbitration, the complainant must bring any claim or action in the state or federal courts for Wisconsin, and the parties waive any objection based on personal jurisdiction, venue or inconvenient forum.
18.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT, AMENDMENTS, CONFLICT, SEVERABILITY, WAIVER, SURVIVAL. This Agreement, all documents referred to herein and any related Service Order executed by the parties constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede any and all prior agreements and rates between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No additions, deletions or modifications to this Agreement or any Service Order will be binding unless (a) made in a writing signed by duly authorized representatives of both parties or (b) agreed to by the party to be charged by electronic means. In the event of a conflict between any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any Service Order, the terms and conditions in the Service Order will prevail. The parties are independent contractors. Nothing contained herein will be construed as creating any agency, partnership, or other form of joint venture or enterprise between the parties. If any provision(s) of this Agreement or any related Service Order is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the parties further agree to substitute a valid provision that most closely approximates the economic effect of the invalid provision. The failure of either party to require performance by the other party of any provision hereof will not affect the right to require such performance at any time thereafter, nor will the waiver by either party of a breach of any provision hereof be taken to be a waiver of the provision itself. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties agree to and do hereby waive any applicable statutory or common law that may permit a court to construe a contract against its drafter. No claim or cause of action may be asserted against either party more than three (3) months after the time the facts giving rise to the claim or cause of action are discovered or should have been discovered. In the event a suit is brought or an attorney or collection agency is retained by Provider to enforce the terms of this Agreement or any Service Order, or to collect any monies due hereunder, or to collect money damages for breach thereof, Provider will be entitled to recover, in addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity, reimbursement for attorneys’ fees, court costs, collection costs, costs of investigation and other related expenses incurred in connection therewith. The terms and provisions contained in this Agreement and any related Service Order that, by their sense and context, are intended to survive the performance thereof by the parties hereto will survive the completion of performance and termination of this Agreement, including, without limitation, payment obligations, the limitations on damages and liability, ownership of intellectual property, and defense and indemnity obligations.
RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
APPLICABLE TO
WIRELINE BROADBAND INTERNET TRANSPORT SERVICE
FURNISHED BY
West Wisconsin Telcom Cooperative, Inc.
Study Area Code (“SAC”) Number 330971
FOR SERVICES
AS PROVIDED FOR HEREIN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1: General
1.1 Application of Rates, Terms and Conditions
1.2 Definitions
Section 2: Terms and Conditions
2.1 Undertaking of the Company
2.2 Obligations of the Customer
2.3 Liabilities of the Company
2.4 Application for Service
2.5 Access Service Request (ASR)
2.6 Charges and Payments for Service
2.7 Termination or Denial of Service by the Company
2.8 Billing Disputes
2.9 Limitations
Section 3: Description of Service
3.1 General
3.2 WBITS Service Classes and Options
3.3 WBITS Provisioning
3.4 Rate Regulations
3.5 WBITS Access Service Wholesale Pricing Plan
Section 4: Rates and Charges
4.1 WBITS DSL Monthly/Term Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges
- General
1.1 Application of Rates, Terms and Conditions
1.1.A West Wisconsin Telcom Cooperative, Inc., is an incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”), Study Area Code (“SAC”) 330971 and FCC Form 499 Filer ID 804579, operating in the state of Wisconsin, and is hereinafter referred to as the “Company.”
1.1.B The rates, terms and conditions contained within this document, hereinafter referred to as “Rates, Terms and Conditions,” are applicable to the Company’s provision of Wireline Broadband Internet Transport Service (“WBITS”), hereinafter collectively or individually referred to alternatively as Service or Wireline Broadband Internet Transport Service or WBITS, as specified herein. Service is furnished subject to the availability of suitable facilities as determined by the Company and subject to transmission, atmospheric and like conditions. By accepting Service from the Company, the Customer accepts these Rates, Terms and Conditions as a binding agreement between the Customer and the Company.
1.1.C WBITS is available from the Company as, WBITS Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“SDSL”) Access Service.
1.1.D The Company offers the Services pursuant to the Rates, Terms and Conditions and subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) pursuant to Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, as Amended (47 USC § 201-276), on a common-carriage permissively detariffed basis.
1.1.E The Company offers Services where technically feasible within its incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”) exchange boundaries in the state of Wisconsin. For purposes of interstate services, including permissively detariffed WBITS as is comprehended by the Services, the Company’s serving area is identified as a study area with a discrete SAC 330971.
1.1.F The provision of Service by the Company as set forth in these Rates, Terms and Conditions does not constitute a joint undertaking with the Customer for the furnishing of any service.
1.1 G The Company may at its sole discretion modify the Rates, Terms and Conditions. Modification will be effective thirty (30) days after posting of revised Rates, Terms and Conditions on the Company’s Internet web site.
1.2 Definitions
Certain terms used throughout these Rates, Terms and Conditions are defined as follows:
1.2.A Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“ADSL”) The term “Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“ADSL”) denotes an access technology that allows voice and high speed data to be sent simultaneously over local exchange service facilities. ADSL supports the transmission of data signals at a different speed when receiving data (downstream rate) than when sending data (upstream rate).
1.2.B Application for Service An Application for Service standard order form which includes all pertinent billing, technical, volume discounts, term discounts and other descriptive information which will enable the Company to provide and bill the Service as required.
1.2.C Company The term “Company” refers to West Wisconsin Telcom Cooperative, Inc., study area designation 330971 and FCC Form 499 Filer ID 804579, operating in the state of Wisconsin.
1.2.D Customer The term “Customer” is any individual, partnership, association, trust, corporation, cooperative or governmental agency or other entity which utilizes the Services provided by the Company. A Customer, as set forth herein, is responsible for the payment of charges and for compliance with all applicable terms of the Rates, Terms and Conditions.
1.2.E Customer Premises Equipment (“CPE”) Customer premises equipment (“CPE”) is terminal equipment or facilities provided by persons other than the Company and connected to the Company’s Services and/or facilities. Customer premises equipment includes, but is not limited to, equipment provided by the Customer’s agent, or by the Customer’s end user customer.
1.2.F Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”) Access Service Connection Point The term “Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”) Access Service Connection Point” is a location designated by the Company that serves as an aggregation point for the collection of Company WBITS traffic from multiple Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (“DSLAMs”) or comparable packet-mode data modem equipment. Network Service Providers establish connections to the Company’s WBITS network at the Company designated DSL Access Service Connection Point. Access Service Connection Points are designated in NECA’s Tariff FCC No. 4. Associated rates are billed per TCA’s Tariff FCC No. 1.
1.2.G Ethernet Ethernet is a physical link protocol reflecting the two lowest layers of the DNA/OS1 model. Standards applicable to Ethernet transmission are established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (“IEEE”). Associated rates are billed per TCA’s Tariff FCC No. 1.
1.2.H Federal Universal Service Charge (“FUSC”) The Federal Universal Charge (“FUSC”) is a charge billed to Customers on interstate telecommunications services that are purchased either by parties who are not contributors to federal Universal Service under 47 CFR § 54.709(a) or by contributors to federal Universal Service who use the interstate telecommunications service purchased as a component of a non-telecommunications retail service for which the revenues are not subject to federal Universal Service contribution. Associated rates are billed per NECA’s Tariff FCC No. 5.
1.2.I Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (“ILEC”) Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (“ILEC”) has the same meaning as Section 251(h) of the Communications Act, as Amended 47 U.S.C. § 251(h)(1).
- DEFINITION.–For purposes of this section, the term ”incumbent local exchange carrier” means, with respect to an area, the local exchange carrier that–(A) on the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, provided telephone exchange service in such area; and (B)(i) on such date of enactment, was deemed to be a member of the exchange carrier association pursuant to section 69.601(b) of the Commission’s regulations (47 C.F.R. 69.601(b)); Or (ii) is a person or entity that, on or after such date of enactment, became a successor or assign of a member described in clause (i).
1.2.J Internet The Internet is “the international computer network of both Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet switched data networks,” 47 USC §230(f)(1). The Internet is also described as “the combination of computer facilities and electromagnetic transmission media, and related equipment and software, comprising the interconnected worldwide network of computer networks that employ the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or any successor protocol to transmit information,”47 USC §231(e)(3).
1.2.K Internet Protocol (“IP”) The Internet Protocol (“IP”) is the industry standard method or protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet.
1.2.L Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) An Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) is an organization that provides access to the Internet. The ISP provides the username, password and customer service to the end user Internet customer.
1.2.M.1 NECA Tariff FCC No. 5 The National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (“NECA”) Tariff FCC No. 5 is the interstate access tariff filed by NECA on behalf of members of NECA. The Company is a member of NECA and a participant in the NECA Common Line Pool.
1.2.M.2 TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 The TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 is the interstate access tariff filed by TCA on behalf of clients of TCA. The Company is an issuing carrier for TCA Tariff FCC No. 1. Because the Company is an issuing carrier, it is pursuant to the rates and regulations of TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 that Customers must order interstate Special Access services or Public Packet Data Network service required for connection to the Company’s WBITS network at the Company’s DSL Access Connection Point.
1.2.N kbps kbps is the widely recognized abbreviation for “kilobits per second”, a measure of data transfer speed. The “k” in kbps is lowercase to indicate measurement in decimal, i.e. 1 kbps is 1,000 kilobits per second.
1.2.O Mbps Mbps is the widely recognized abbreviation for “megabits per second” indicating a data transfer speed of one million bits per second.
1.2.P Multi-Media Multi-Media refers to data transport services that include data, text, audio, and visual content through use of Internet Protocol.
1.2.Q Network Interface Device (“NID”) The Network Interface Device (“NID”) includes any potential means of interconnection with customer premises inside wiring at the point where the carrier’s local loop facilities end, such as at a cross connect device used to connect the loop to customer-controlled inside wiring. This includes all features, functions, and capabilities of the facilities used to connect the loop to premises wiring, regardless of the specific mechanical design. Where the connection between the Company’s serving wire center and the customer’s end user premises is by fiber optical cable, the NID may be an Optical Network Terminal (“ONT”).
1.2.R Network Service Providers Network Service Providers are Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) or Multi-Media providers who provide retail services to end user customers based on transmission of data through use of Internet Protocol.
1.2.S Optical Network Terminal (“ONT”) An optical network terminal (“ONT”) resides at the end user customer premises end of the passive optical network (“PON”). The ONT provides the interface between the network and the end user customer’s equipment.
1.2.T Rates, Terms and Conditions “Rates, Terms and Conditions” refers to this document as a whole comprising the rates, terms and conditions applicable to the provision of Services to Customers by the Company.
1.2.U Services “Services” comprise the Wireline Broadband Internet Transport Service (“WBITS”) offerings by the Company under these Rates, Terms and Conditions.
1.2.V Study Area A study area is a geographic segment of an ILEC’s telephone operations and generally corresponds to an incumbent local exchange carrier’s entire service territory within a state for which the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (“NECA”) has assigned a six-digit study area code (“SAC”).
1.2.W Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“SDSL”) The term “Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL)” denotes an access technology that allows high speed data to be sent over local exchange service facilities. SDSL supports the transmission of data signals at the same speed when receiving data (downstream rate) and transmitting data (upstream rate).
1.2.X Telecommunications Telecommunications is the transmission of voice communications or, subject to the transmission capabilities of the service, the transmission of data, facsimile, signaling, metering, or any other form of intelligence.
1.2.Y Voice-Data WBITS The term “Voice-Data” when used in the context of WBITS refers to provision of Service over a line that also carries Company provided local exchange switched voice service to the customer premises. Voice-Data WBITS will be Voice-Data WBITS SDSL.
1.2.Z Wire Center A wire center is the location of an ILEC switching facility and also may refer to the area encompassed by the wire center boundaries defining the area in which all customers are connected to a given wire center.
1.2.AA Wireline Broadband Internet Transport Service (“WBITS”) Wireline Broadband Internet Transport Service (“WBITS”) is a high-speed data access service that is made available to Network Service Providers for connection to the Company’s end user customers over existing company local exchange facilities for provision broadband services employing Internet Protocol. WBITS may be provided under one Class of Services, WBITS ADSL or WBITS SDSL.
- Terms and Conditions
2.1 Undertaking of the Company
2.1.A Scope
(1) The Company makes Services available to Network Service Providers. Services are described in Section 3 of these Rates, Terms and Conditions.
(2) Connecting the Customer’s network to the Company’s WBITS network requires the Customer to order Special Access or Public Packet Data Network transport services sufficient to carry the Customer’s data between its premises and the Company’s designated DSL Access Connection Point. Special Access or Public Packet Data Network transport services within the Company’s serving area must be obtained from the Company under TCA Tariff FCC No. 1. The Company is an issuing carrier for TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 and bills Customers the rates established in TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 for services ordered pursuant thereto.
(3) For purposes of connection from the Customer Designated Premises (“CDP”) to the Company’s DSL Access Connection Point, the Company provides the following services pursuant to TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 and subject to technical capability.
Interstate Special Access Service:
High Capacity Service
Public Packet Data Network:
Ethernet Transport Service (“ETS”)
(4) TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 regulations and rates respecting Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“ADSL”) Access Service or Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (“SDSL”) Access Service do not apply to any service provided by the Company. Instead, the Company makes WBITS available on a permissively detariffed, common carriage basis under these Rates, Terms and Conditions.
2.1.B Limitations
(1) The Services provided pursuant to these Rates, Terms and Conditions are offered subject to the availability of suitable facilities as determined by the Company and the other provisions of these Rates, Terms and Conditions.
(2) The Company does not undertake to transmit communications or messages, but rather furnishes facilities, Service and equipment for such transmissions by the Customer.
(3) The Company retains the right to deny Service to any Customer that fails to comply with the rules and regulations of these Rates, Terms and Conditions, or other applicable rules, regulations or laws.
(4) Title to all facilities provided by the Company under these terms and conditions remains with the Company.
2.2 Obligations of the Customer
2.2.A All Customers assume general responsibilities in connection with the provision and use of the Company’s Service. General responsibilities are described in this section. When facilities, equipment, and/or communication systems provided by others are connected to the Company’s facilities, the Customer assumes the additional responsibilities as set forth in Section 2.2, herein.
2.2.B The Customer is responsible for the payment of all charges for any and all Services or facilities provided by the Company to the Customer.
2.2.C The Customer shall indemnify and save harmless the Company from and against all loss, liability, damage and expense, including reasonable counsel fees, due to claims for libel, slander, or infringement of copyright or trademark in connection with any material transmitted by the Customer using the Company’s Services; and any other claim resulting from any act of omission of the Customer in the use of the Company’s facilities.
2.2.D Dealings with End User Customers
(1) The Customer will deal directly with its end user customers with respect to all matters pertaining to the service provided, including marketing, sales, ordering, installation, maintenance, trouble reporting, repair, billing and collections. The Customer will not direct its end users to contact the Company for any aspect of the service the Customer provides with Services provided by the Company.
(2) The Customer will submit orders for WBITS to the Company in a format and manner designated by the Company.
(3) The Customer will obtain the appropriate authorization to allow the Company to provision WBITS Voice-Data Service over the Customer’s end user’s existing telephone exchange service line.
2.2.E The Customer shall reimburse the Company for damages to the Company’s facilities caused by any negligence or willful act or acts on the part of the Customer.
2.2.F In the event a suit is brought by the Company, or an attorney is retained by the Company to collect any bill or enforce the terms of these Rates, Terms and Conditions against a Customer, that Customer shall be responsible for payment of all reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, costs of investigation and any and all other related costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection therewith.
2.2.G The Customer understands that the Services are furnished subject to the condition that there will be no abuse, fraudulent and/or illegal use thereof. Such activity includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Using the Service for any purpose which is in violation of any law.
(b) Obtaining or attempting to obtain Services through any scheme, false representation and/or use of any fraudulent means or devices whatsoever with the intent to avoid payment, in whole or in part, of charges for Services, or assisting any other person or firm in such regard.
(c) Using the Services in a manner that interferes unreasonably with the use of Service by one or more other Customers.
2.3 Liabilities of the Company
2.3A Except as stated in this Section 2.3, the Company shall have no liability or damages of any kind arising out of or related to events, acts, rights or privileges contemplated in the Rates, Terms and Conditions.
2.3.B The liability of the Company for damages resulting in whole or in part from or arising in connection with the furnishing of Service under the Rates, Terms and Conditions including, but not limited to, mistakes, omissions, interruptions, delays, errors or other defects or misrepresentations shall not exceed an amount equal to the charges under the Rates, Terms and Conditions applicable to the specific period that was affected. No other liability shall attach to the Company. In no event shall the Company be liable for special, punitive, consequential or incidental damages. The Company disclaims any expression of implied warranties with respect to the services of the Company equipment, including without limitation, any implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
2.3C The Company shall be indemnified and held harmless by the customer against:
(1) Claims for libel, slander infringement of copyright or unauthorized use of a trademark, trade name, or service mark arising out of the material, data, information, or other content transmitted over the Company’s facilities.
(2) Claims for patent infringement arising from combining or connecting the Company’s facilities with apparatus and systems of the customer.
(3) All other claims arising out of any act of mission of the customer in connection with any service provided by the Company.
2.3.D The Company shall not be liable for any failure of performance hereunder due to causes beyond its control, including, but not limited to: (1) acts of God, fires, flood or other catastrophes; (2) any law, order, regulation, directive, action or request of the United States Government, or any other government, including state and local governments having jurisdiction over the Company, or of any department, agency, bureau, corporation or other instrumentality of any one or more of said governments, or of any civil or military authority; or (3) national emergencies, insurrections, riots, wars or other labor difficulties.
2.3.E The Company shall not be liable for any act or omission of any other entity furnishing facilities, equipment, or services used by a Customer, with the Company’s Services. In addition, the Company shall not be liable for any damages or losses due to the failure or negligence of any Customer or due to the failure of CPE, Customer’s facilities or Customer’s services.
2.4 Application for Service
2.4.A The Customer must place an Application for Service with the Company to initiate, cancel or change the Services provided pursuant to these Rates, Terms and Conditions. The Company may require the customer to submit a formal credit application. Applications for Services must be in writing and provide, at a minimum, the following information:
2.4.B Customer’s name(s), telephone number(s) and address(es). In the case of a corporation or partnership, a designated officer or agent shall be named as the contact person for such corporation or partnership.
2.4.C Name(s), address(es) and telephone number(s) of person(s) to whom notices from the Company to the Customer shall be addressed, if different from Section 2.4 B above.
2.5 Access Service Request (ASR)
2.5.A The Customer shall submit an ASR setting forth the specific Services requested under the Rates, Terms and Conditions that the Customer is ordering, the terms and volume commitments the Customer is establishing, the type and volume of transport service the Customer is ordering under NECA Tariff FCC No. 5.
2.5.B Technical Standards Supplement (“TS Supplement”)
(1) The Company and the Customer shall agree to the industry technical standards applicable to the transmission of data between the Customer and the Company through use of the Company’s WBITS provided pursuant to these Rates, Terms and Conditions and the Agreement. The agreed to technical standards shall be documented in the Technical Standards Supplement (“TS Supplement”). The TS Supplement shall be signed by both parties and incorporated by reference into the Agreement.
(2) The TS Supplement can be amended, from time to time, based on mutual agreement of the Customer and the Company. If an industry standard becomes obsolete or is otherwise no longer supported by vendors associated with the Company’s network, any duties with respect to technical standards are vitiated. In the event the Customer and the Company do not come to agreement regarding replacement industry standards, the Company shall choose the replacement industry standard most commonly used by the industry.
2.6 Charges and Payments for Service
2.6.A Deposits
(1) The Company may, in order to safeguard its interests, require a Customer to make a suitable deposit or provide a surety bond or letter of credit in the amount of the required deposit as a guarantee of the payment of charges for Service. The Company shall have the right to require the Customer to make a deposit prior to or at any time after provision of any Service, not to exceed three (3) months estimated charges for said Service. The Company may increase the amount of the deposit to reflect increases in the Customer’s annual bill. The Customer will receive a receipt for the deposit.
(2) Any deposit as referred to in this Section shall be held by the Company to secure the payment of the Customer’s bill. At the Company’s option, the deposit may be refunded or credited to the Customer at any time prior to the termination of Service. Otherwise, the deposit will be returned to the Customer upon termination of service if all outstanding balances have been satisfied.
(3) Interest will be paid by the Company on all sums held on deposit at the rate established statutorily for Customer deposits. The interest will be accrued for the period during which the deposit is held by the Company.
(4) The fact that a deposit is made does not relieve the Customer from making advance payments or from complying with the Company’s regulations for the payment of bills in accordance with the terms herein and does not constitute a waiver or modification of the regulations of the Company providing for the discontinuance of Service for nonpayment of any sums due the Company for Service rendered.
(5) Upon termination of Service, and assuming deposits of the Customer are not applied as indicated in Section 2.6.A.(2), the deposit will be credited to the Customer’s account and any credit balance will be refunded after all amounts due the Company have been paid.
2.6.B Description of Payment and Billing Periods
(1) Service is provided and billed on a monthly basis. Service will continue to be provided and billed on a monthly basis until canceled by the Customer through prior written notice given to the Company.
(2) The Company shall bill in advance charges for all services to be provided during the ensuing billing period.
(3) Adjustments for the quantities of Services established or discontinued in any billing period beyond the minimum period set forth for Services in other sections of the Rates, Terms and Conditions will be prorated to the number of days based on a 30 day month.
2.6.C Taxes and Other Charges
(1) In addition to payment for Services, Customer must pay all taxes, fees, surcharges and other charges that the Company bills Customer related to Services. Taxes and surcharges will be in the amounts that federal, state and local authorities require the Company to bill the Customer. The Company will not provide advance notice of changes to taxes and surcharges, except as required by applicable law. All such taxes and charges shall be separately shown and charged on bills rendered by Company or its billing agent.
2.6.D Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC)
(1) Services are an interstate telecommunications services purchased by the Customer for use as a component of Internet Service, a non-telecommunications service and are thus subject to the Federal Universal Service Contribution Factor (“FUSC”) assessed by the Company at the current quarterly contribution factor established for the quarter by the FCC pursuant to See 47 C.F.R. § 54.709(a). The FUSC charge is assessed at the quarterly contribution factor in effect on the bill date for charges billed for Services. The FUSC owed by the Customer under the Rates, Terms and Conditions shall be equal to the Services billed multiplied by the current quarterly FUSC factor.
2.6.E Payment and Late Payment Charge
(1) Payment will be due as specified on the Customer bill. Commencing after that due date, a late charge of up to the highest interest rate allowable by state law will be applied to all amounts past due.
(2) Collection procedures and the requirement for a deposit are unaffected by the application of a late payment charge. The late payment charge does not apply to unpaid balances associated with disputed amounts. Undisputed amounts on the same bill are subject to the late payment charge if unpaid and carried forward to the next bill.
(3) Service may be denied or discontinued at the Company’s discretion for nonpayment of amounts due the Company past the due date as specified in Section 2.6.E.(1). Restoration of Service will be subject to all applicable installation charges.
(4) When payment for service is made by check, draft or other negotiable instrument, a reasonable handling charge of $50.00 will be assessed for each time such item is returned unpaid to the Company for any reason except to the extent limited by law.
2.6.F Credit Allowance/Service Interruptions
(1) Credit for failure of Service will be allowed only when failure is caused by or occurs in the Company’s facilities or equipment owned, provided and billed for by the Company. Upon reasonable notice, the facilities provided by the Company shall be made available to the Company for testing and adjustments as may be necessary to maintain them in satisfactory condition. No interruption allowance for service credit will be granted for the time during which such tests and adjustments are made. No credit will be allowed for relinquishing of facilities in order to perform routine maintenance.
(2) Credit allowances for failure of Service or equipment starts when the Customer notifies the Company of the failure and ceases when the operation has been restored. No credit shall be allowed for an interruption of less than 24 hours.
(3) The Customer shall notify the Company of failures of Service or equipment and make reasonable attempts to ascertain that the failure is not caused by Customer premises equipment or Customer provided facilities, any act, or omission of the Customer or in wiring or equipment connected to the Customer’s terminal.
(4) Only those portions of the Service or equipment operation disabled will be credited.
(5) A credit allowance will not be given for interruptions caused by the negligence or willful act of the Customer, or interruptions caused by failure of equipment or service not provided by the Company. A credit allowance also will not be given for any failure of performance hereunder due to causes beyond its control, including, but not limited to: (1) acts of God, fires, flood or other catastrophes; (2) any law, order, regulation, directive, action or request of the United States Government, or any other government, including state and local governments having jurisdiction over the Company, or of any department, agency, bureau, corporation or other instrumentality of any one or more of said governments, or of any civil or military authority; or (3) national emergencies, insurrections, riots, wars or other labor difficulties.
2.6.G Service Interruption Measurement
(1) In the event of an interruption of Service that exceeds the minimum requirements set forth in this Section 2.6 F(2), the Company shall make a credit allowance at the Customer’s request for a pro rata adjustment of all Service charges billed by the Company for Services rendered inoperative by the interruption. The credit allowance will be computed by dividing the duration of the Service interruption measured in 24 hour days, from the time the interruption is reported to the Company, by a standard 30 day month, and then multiplying the result by the Company’s fixed monthly charges for each interrupted Service.
2.7 Termination or Denial of Service by the Company
2.7.A The Company may, immediately and without notice to the Customer, and without liability of any nature, temporarily deny, terminate, or suspend Service to any Customer:
(1) In the event such Customer or its agent: (a) willfully damages the Company equipment, interferes with use of the Company’s Service by other Customers of the Company; (b) unreasonably places capacity demands upon the Company’s facilities or Service; or (c) violates any statute or provision of law, or any rule or regulation of any state or federal regulatory agency relating to communications; or (d) otherwise fails to comply with the provisions of these Rates, Terms and Conditions or applicable law; or
(2) In the event a Customer becomes insolvent, is the subject of any formal legal proceeding commenced in a court involving a voluntary or involuntary petition or proceeding in bankruptcy, seeks protection or relief from creditors in a formal legal proceeding after a filing for such relief, or executes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(3) In the event the Company determines that any Service is being used fraudulently or illegally, whether by a Customer or its agent.
(4) In the event the end user customer served by the Customer by Voice-Data WBITS terminates local exchange service provided by the Company, the Company will terminate provision of WBITS Service to the Customer for the line serving the end user customer. It is the responsibility of the Customer to inform its end user customers that the Customer’s service to the end user customer will be terminated immediately in the event of cancelation by the end user customer of local exchange service provided by the Company or termination of local exchange service by the Company, whether temporary or permanent, for any lawful reason.
2.8 Billing Disputes
(1) If Customer believes Customer has been billed by the Company in error, Customer must contact the Company within 60 days of the date of the bill which contains the disputed charge. Refunds or adjustments will not be issued for any charge that is more than 60 days old at the time Customer notifies the Company. Customer may withhold from payment to the Company the disputed portion of any bill pending resolution of the dispute. Customer must pay all non-disputed charges on the bill by the due date indicated on the bill. The Company will notify Customer of the results of its inquiry, and either adjust the billing, issue a credit, or notify Customer that all or a portion of the disputed amount is still owed. Customer will be required to pay such amount within 15 days thereafter, and if Customer fails to pay this amount within the time required, Customer’s account will be deemed past due and unpaid and Customer’s Service will be subject to termination. Any payments Customer withholds pending resolution of the dispute may be subject to a late payment charge at the highest interest rate allowable by law applied to past due amounts.
2.9 Limitations
2.9.A WBITS SDSL Limitations.
(1) WBITS SDSL Access Service is available as voice-data service option as described in Section 3, following. Where suitable facilities exist, the Company will offer WBITS SDSL Access Service at the maximum upstream (i.e., from the customer’s equipment up to the DSL Access Service Connection Point) and downstream (i.e., from the DSL Access Service Connection Point down to the customer’s equipment) speeds as specified in section 4.
(2) These peak speeds are not guaranteed by the Company due to factors that may affect the actual speeds delivered, including the WBITS SDSL Access Service customer’s distance from the Company Serving Wire Center, condition of the existing exchange service facilities, and any capacity limitations in the Company’s or Customer’s network design. The Company does not provide CPE in conjunction with the WBITS SDSL Access Service offering.
(3) WBITS SDSL Access Service will be furnished where suitable facilities exist as determined by the Company. The Company will identify its SDSL-equipped Serving Wire Centers, DSL Access Service Connection Point Serving Wire Centers, and, if applicable, DSL Transport Hub Serving Wire Centers in the NATIONAL EXCHANGE CARRIER ASSOCIATION, INC. Tariff FCC No. 4. WBITS SDSL Access Service will be provided over existing Company local exchange service facilities. When the customer orders WBITS SDSL Voice-Data, the rates and regulations for WBITS SDSL Access Service are in addition to any rates and regulations that apply for the associated local exchange service line provided under the terms and conditions in the Company’s general and/or local exchange service tariffs. The Company will automatically disconnect the WBITS SDSL Access Service Voice-Data when the associated local exchange service line is disconnected for any reason.
(4) Rates and regulations for interstate Special Access Services or Public Packet Data Network Services, provided under TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 will apply for the access service(s) provided between the CDP and the Company’s DSL Access Service Connection Point.
- Description of Service
3.1 General
(1) Wireline Broadband Internet Transport Service (“WBITS”) enables data traffic generated by a Customer-provided modem to be transported from the premises of the Company’s end user customer to the Company’s DSL Access Service Connection Point using the Company’s local exchange service facilities. A DSL Access Service Connection Point is an interconnection point designated by the Company at which the Customer may interconnect WBITS SDSL Access Services provided by the Company under the Rates, Terms and Conditions provided herein with transmission facilities ordered by the Customer under the Company’s offerings under TCA Tariff FCC No. 1. The DSL Access Service Connection Point aggregates WBITS data.
3.1.A DSL Access Service Connection
(1) The Company offers transport of Network Service Provider traffic between the Network Service Provider’s designated premises and the DSL Access Service Connection Point through transport offerings under regulations in TCA Tariff FCC No. 1, as listed at Section 2.1 above, and depend on technical capability notwithstanding listing in TCA Tariff FCC No. 1.
3.1.B Designated End User Premises
(1) The Company’s WBITS allows Customers to establish broadband Internet connections to the Customer’s designated end user customer premises.
(2) The connection speed or “sync rate” is between the Network Interface Device (“NID”) at the Customer’s designated end user customer premises and the packet-mode data modem equipment. Actual data transfer or throughput may be lower than the sync-rate due to Internet congestion, server or router speeds, protocol overheads, end user use of multiple applications and other factors that may not be under the Company’s control.
(3) WBITS will be provided by the Company subject to the availability and limitations of Company wire centers and outside plant facilities.
3.2 WBITS Service Classes and Options
3.2.A WBITS Service Classes
(1) WBITS is provided by the Company based on Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line Access Service (“SDSL”). Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line Access Service (“ADSL”) is not provided at this time.
3.2.B WBITS Service Options
(1) Each WBITS Service Class is available as Voice-Data WBITS.
3.3 WBITS Provisioning
3.3.A Responsibility of the Company
(1) WBITS will be provisioned over existing Company local exchange service lines.
(2) The Company will determine if the associated local exchange service line are suitable for use with the WBITS Class and Option ordered by the Customer. Service will not be provided on lines that are not suitable for WBITS or on lines that produce interference with other services provided by the Company.
(3) The Company will provision and maintain WBITS for the Customer between the NID at the Customer’s designated end user customer premises and the Customer’s DSL Access Connection Point as designated by the Company
(4) The Company reserves the right to temporarily interrupt WBITS for wire center or network maintenance, software updates, and in emergency situations. No credit allowance will be applied for service interruption.
3.3.B Responsibility of the Customer
(1) The Customer is responsible for obtaining and installing compatible Customer end user CPE (DSL modems and/or routers) used for connection to Company WBITS.
(2) The Customer is responsible for ensuring the continuing compatibility of CPE at the end user premises. The Customer shall be responsible for any expenses incurred for required changes to Customer and/or end user equipment or facilities in order to make such equipment or facilities compatible with Company WBITS.
(3) The Customer is responsible for providing the Company with the necessary information to provision the WBITS to its end user customers.
(4) The Customer ordering WBITS on behalf of its end user customers must obtain and maintain record of a letter of agency authorizing the Customer to act as the agent of the end user subscriber. Upon request from the Company, the Customer will provide the Company with a copy of the letter of agency.
(5) The Customer must have connectivity to the Company’s Special Access Service or Public Packet Data Network Service where the Customer chooses to purchase WBITS. The rates and charges for Special Access High Capacity Service or Public Packet Data Network Service pursuant to TCA Tariff FCC No. 1 are in addition to the rates and charges for WBITS as set forth in these Rates, Terms and Conditions.
(6) The Customer will obtain the appropriate authorization to allow the Company’s employees or agents to enter the Customer’s designated end user customer premises at any reasonable hour for the purpose of installing, inspecting, repairing or removing the NID or drop associated with WBITS.
(7) The Customer is responsible for providing all customer support, marketing, billing, ordering and repair to and for its end users.
(8) The Customer is responsible for all dealings with its end user customers.
(9) The Customer shall at all times be the Company’s customer of record with respect to all Services purchased hereunder and shall be responsible for payment to Company. Customer retains all responsibility for billing its end user customers and for any claim an end user customer may make concerning unauthorized billing.
3.4 Rate Regulations
3.4.A Rate Elements
(1) There are two types of rates and charges applicable to WBITS. These rates are a monthly WBITS line rate and a WBITS Access Monthly Charge.
3.4.B Monthly WBITS Line Rates
(1) The monthly WBITS Line Rate applies each month or fraction thereof for each local exchange service line equipped with WBITS.
(2) For purposes of application of the Monthly WBITS Line Rate, WBITS may be ordered under any of the following options that are offered by the Company as indicated.
(3) Monthly Rates Without Discount – Customers may order WBITS at a monthly rate without discount. Monthly rates apply without any volume or term commitment. There is no minimum period for WBITS under this option.
(4) Monthly Rates with Discount – Customers may order WBITS at a monthly rate with volume and /or term discounts. Volume and term commitments are specified below.
3.4.C Changes
(1) All changes to existing WBITS (e.g., a change of Network Service Provider and restoral of the WBITS following a disconnect for non-payment of charges and/or a disconnect of the associated local exchange service line for any reason), will be treated as a discontinuance of the existing service and an installation of a new service. A nonrecurring installation charge will apply per WBITS line for this work activity. No charges will be assessed for changes in speed or changes from one Service Class to another Service Class.
3.4.D Minimum Period
(1) Unless subject to a term commitment, the minimum period for which WBITS is provided to a Customer and for which charges are applicable is one (1) month.
3.4.E Moves
(1) A move involves a change in the physical location of one of the following:
-The Point of Termination at the Customer designated end user customer premises
-The Customer’s designated end user customer premises
(2) The charges for the move are dependent on whether the move is to a new location within the same building or to a different building.
(a) Moves within the Same Building
- When the move is to a new location within the same building, the charge for the move will be an amount equal to one half of the nonrecurring (i.e., installation) charge for the service termination affected. There will be no change in the minimum period requirements.
(b) Moves to a Different Building
- Moves to a different building will be treated as a discontinuance and start of service and all associated nonrecurring charges will apply. New minimum period requirements will be establishedfor the new services. The Customer will also remain responsible for satisfying all outstanding minimum period charges for the discontinued service.
3.5 WBITS Wholesale Pricing Plan
3.5.A General
(1) The Services offered under WBITS are provided at wholesale rates to the Customer under the conditions listed below.
(2) The Customer purchases WBITS SDSL Access Service for the purpose of combining these telecommunications services with its own information service(s) to create a new retail service for sale to its end user Customer(s).
(3) In addition to the obligations previously specified in this document, the Customer assumes the following obligations:
(a) The Customer will deal directly with its end user customers with respect to all matters pertaining to the service provided, including marketing, sales, ordering, installation, maintenance, trouble reporting, repair, billing and collections. The Customer will not direct its end users to contact the Company for any aspect of the service the Customer provides.
(b) The Customer will submit orders for WBITS to the Company in a format and manner designated by the Company.
(c) The Customer will obtain the appropriate authorization to allow the Company to provision WBITS SDSL Voice-Data Access Service over the Customer’s end user’s existing telephone exchange service line.
(4) Services provided under the WBITS are available under a WBITS Monthly Plan at the rates and charges specified in Section 4.1., following,.
(5) An Access Order Charge will not apply:
– To establish a new WBITS Monthly Plan, WBITS Term Plan or WBITS Volume Pricing Plan.
– To change an existing WBITS Term Plan or WBITS Volume Pricing Plan.
– To convert from an existing WBITS Monthly Plan to a WBITS Term Plan and vice versa.
– To terminate an existing WBITS Monthly Plan, WBITS Term Plan, or WBITS Volume Pricing Plan.
(6) A WBITS Access Monthly Charge applies per customer, as defined in section 1.2.D and specified in section 4.1.C. A monthly charge applies for each WBITS SDSL Access Service line as specified in section 4.1.A. A nonrecurring charge applies for the installation of each WBITS SDSL Access Service line unless waived per the terms in section 3.4.A.
3.5.B WBITS Term Plan
(1) Description
(a) The WBITS Term Plan provides the Customer with reduced rates based on the length of the Customer’s term commitment and its selected pricing plan for all of the Customer’s WBITS SDSL Access Service lines provided in the Company’s study area. The WBITS Term Plan is available for term length of 3 years. When the Customer subscribes to a WBITS Term Plan, all in-service WBITS SDSL Access Service lines, including all Classes and Options provided out of and subsequently installed in the Company’s study area will be billed the rates and charges specified in Section 4.1, following, for the length of the term commitment. The WBITS Term Plan discount does not apply to any rate elements other than the monthly recurring WBITS Monthly Line Charges specified in Section 4.1.A, following.
(b) If the Company changes the rates specified in Section 4.1, following, during the term of a commitment period, the new rates will automatically be applied for the remainder of the current commitment period.
(c) At the end of the WBITS Term Plan, the Customer may elect to establish a new WBITS Term Plan commitment, convert to the rates available under the WBITS Monthly Plan, or discontinue service. If the Customer does not make an election by the end of the WBITS Term Plan, the rates for all in-service WBITS SDSL Access Service lines will automatically be converted to the rates available under the WBITS Monthly Plan specified in Section 4.1.A, following.
(d) Available WBITS Term Plan commitment levels and associated discounts are specified in Section 4.1.B (1), following.
(e) A WBITS Term Plan is subject to payment for early termination as described in 3.5.B (3), below
(2) Termination without Liability
(a) A Customer may terminate a WBITS Term Plan commitment without the application of a termination liability charge if the Company increases the WBITS Term Plan rates described in Section 4.1, following, during the term of the existing commitment. The Customer has 90 days following such rate increase to notify the Company in writing of its intent to terminate its WBITS Term Plan commitment under this section; otherwise, the increased rates will apply for the remainder of the commitment period.
(3) Termination with Liability
(a) If the Customer elects to terminate its WBITS Term Plan prior to the end of the commitment period for any reason other than specified in 3.5.B (2), above, a termination liability charge will apply. If the WBITS Term Plan is terminated prior to the end of the commitment period, the Company will bill the Customer a charge equal to 20% times the monthly WBITS Charge per SDSL Access Service Line multiplied by the number of months remaining in the commitment period. Termination of an individual WBITS SDSL Access Service line does not constitute termination of the WBITS Term Plan.
(b) WBITS Monthly Plan rates as described in Section 4.1.A, following, will apply to all in-service WBITS Access Lines following the early termination of a WBITS Term Plan.
- Rates and Charges
4.1.A WBITS SDSL Line Charge
Speed | Monthly | ||
SDSL | Up-Stream | Down-Stream | Rate |
Voice-Data | 1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | $13.50 |
4.1.B WBITS Charges
- WBITS Access Monthly Charge
$1,500 per month
- WBITS Term Plan Charge
Monthly | |
Service Commitment | Discount |
3 years | 30% |