Broadband Network Service's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is designed to help protect our customers, and the Internet community in general, from irresponsible or illegal activities.

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THE ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY CAREFULLY BEFORE OPENING OR CONTINUING A DIAL-UP ACCOUNT WITH BROADBAND NETWORK SERVICES. BY USING BROADBAND NETWORK SERVICES' SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICIES STATED BELOW.

Use of Services

Broadband Network Services expects its clients to use the Internet properly, in a manner consistent with good manners and citizenship.

Attempting to impersonate any person, using forged headers or other identifying information, is prohibited. The use of anonymous remailers and nicknames does not constitute impersonation.

Use of a Broadband Network Services account for any unlawful purpose is prohibited. Such unlawful purposes may include, but are not limited to: On-line gambling, transmission, posting or downloading of child pornography, intentional spreading of computer viruses, unlawful entry into public or private computer systems including Broadband Network Services' own network infrastructure or violation of any future or existing municipal, state, or federal law.

Activities, whether intentional or not, which adversely affect the ability of other people or systems to use Broadband Network Services' services or the Internet are prohibited.

Attempts, whether successful or not, to gain access to any computer system or customer's data without consent are prohibited.

Use of Account/Password

Broadband Network Services personal dial-up accounts are for individual use only. Clients may not share passwords or account information with any other individuals except those of his or her immediate family who reside in the same household as the client. The client is then responsible for all actions by other family members using the account. The client is prohibited from reselling his or her Internet access without the written consent of Broadband Network Services. Corporate accounts that pay Broadband Network Services' corporate account rates may share passwords and accounts with employees of that business only.

Each Broadband Network Services dial-up account user is responsible for the security of his or her password. Secure passwords are between 6 and 8 characters long, contain letters of mixed case and cannot be found in whole or in part, in normal or reverse order, in any dictionary of words or names in any language.

Broadband Network Services staff may monitor the security of a client's password at any time. A client with an insecure password may be issued a new random password that complies with the above rules.

Electronic Mail

Sending unsolicited commercial E-mail is prohibited. Mass unsolicited electronic mail is defined as any electronic mail sent to a group of electronic mail addresses where the recipients have not specifically requested information or a response. Using a Broadband Network Services E-mail address to collect responses from unsolicited commercial E-mail is prohibited. Sending threatening, harassing or obscene E-mail is prohibited.

USENET News

Excessive cross posting, or posting the same article to several newsgroups, is prohibited. Generally accepted standards allow no more than 10 newsgroups, or cross-postings, for a single article or substantially similar articles. Such articles may be subject to cancellation by Broadband Network Services administrators without warning or liability.

Commercial advertisements (such as, but not limited to "SPAM" or pyramid schemes) should not be placed in USENET newsgroups unless such posting is specifically approved by the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document for that specific newsgroup, or by the moderator for a moderated newsgroup.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

The use of IRC "bots" is prohibited except where permission has been granted by all operators of the network on which the "bot" is running. It is a violation of accepted policies on most IRC servers.

World Wide Web (WWW)

Broadband Network Services reserves the right to remove any web page residing on Broadband Network Services' servers at any time and for any reason.

Broadband Network Services will investigate complaints regarding inappropriate web page content within the Broadband Network Services domain and may, in its sole discretion, require that the material be removed or terminate the account. Criteria for determining whether a page is inappropriate include, but are not limited to, the system resources consumed by the page and applicable laws.

Miscellaneous

It may be necessary for Broadband Network Services employees to examine the system accounting logs and other records/files to resolve system problems. Broadband Network Services reserves the right to access any file on any system that is owned, operated or maintained by Broadband Network Services to resolve system problems or mail system errors.

In addition, Broadband Network Services will cooperate with the appropriate legal authorities in investigating claims of illegal activity, including but not limited to illegal transfer or use of copyrighted material, postings or E-Mail containing threats of violence, or other illegal activity. Broadband Network Services reserves the right to release the user names of clients involved in violations of system security to system administrators at other sites, in order to assist them in resolving security incidents. Broadband Network Services will also fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities in investigating suspected lawbreakers.

Broadband Network Services makes no guarantee and assumes no liability for the security of any data on any server including "secure servers".

FAILURE TO ADHERE TO ANY OF THE ABOVE GUIDELINES WILL RESULT IN EXAMINATION OF THE INFRACTION BY BROADBAND NETWORK SERVICES. BROADBAND NETWORK SERVICES, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, MAY INSTITUTE ANY PENALTY IT DEEMS NECESSARY SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF ACCOUNT WITHOUT REFUND.

Broadband Network Services considers itself to be positioned against unsolicited, commercial postings and will make every attempt to prohibit or prevent any/all such occurrences.

After the first offense, the client will be contacted by our system administrator informing them of the infraction. The client must contact the system administrator via telephone within 48 hours of receipt of the message. Failure to do so will result in account suspension until such time that the client complies with the request.

If a second offense occurs, the client's account will be terminated immediately and no refund on any remaining credit balance will be provided (if applicable).

Availability of this Agreement

This document is made available by the following methods:

• Via the World-Wide-Web: http://www.bnsi.net/legal/aup/
• By FAX, on request.
• By postal mail: Send a self addressed stamped envelope and a note requesting the Acceptable Usage Policy to: Broadband Network Services, Inc. 1540 Insurance Ln. Charlottesville, VA 22911