Open Internet Principles of Aloha Broadband Inc.
The Federal Communications Commission issued rules to preserve the Internet as an open platform. These rules went into effect on November 20, 2011 and can be found at this link: HYPERLINK “http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-23/html/2011-24259.htm” http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-23/html/2011-24259.htm. All Internet service providers are required to post information regarding various issues so that consumers, both residential and business, can make informed choices about choosing an Internet service provider. This document contains information regarding our services and in compliance with the FCC’s rules. The policies contained herein serve as a supplement to the existing terms of service.
The FCC’s rules focus on four primary issues:
Transparency. Fixed and mobile broadband providers must disclose the network management practices, performance characteristics, and terms and conditions of their broadband services;
No blocking. Fixed broadband providers may not block lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices; mobile broadband providers may not block lawful Web sites, or block applications that compete with their voice or video telephony services;
No unreasonable discrimination. Fixed broadband providers may not unreasonably discriminate in transmitting lawful network traffic, and;
Reasonable network management. ISPs may engage in reasonable network management to maintain a high quality of service for broadband Internet access.
Network Practices
ISPs must disclose their network practices, specifically in the four general areas listed below. ISPs may not block lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful
devices, subject to reasonable network management. An ISP may not block consumers
from accessing lawful Web sites, subject to reasonable network management; nor shall the ISP block applications that compete with the provider’s voice or video telephony services, subject to reasonable network management. ISPs may not unreasonably discriminate in transmitting lawful network traffic over a consumer’s broadband Internet access service, although, reasonable network management shall not constitute
unreasonable discrimination. The FCC’s rules state that a network management practice is reasonable if it is appropriate and tailored to achieving a legitimate network management purpose, taking into account the particular network architecture and technology of the broadband Internet access service.
Congestion Management: We limit each customer to the amount of bandwidth allocated to them according to their payment plan. This ensures we have control on the
amount of traffic going through each AP and our total network. We seek to provide consistent, reliable speeds at all times. Congestion does not occur since we continue to add bandwidth. There are no usage limits.
Application-Specific Behavior: The only protocol we block is bittorrent due to its impact on the network. We do allow VoIP applications to use QOS for their packets.
Device Attachment Rules: There are no restrictions on the devices that my be attached to our network at the customer premises.
Security: It is the end user’s responsibility to ensure they are using secure sites and have adequate protection on their computers. Our network is password protected and no device is allowed to connect to our network that we do not authorize.
Performance Characteristics
ISPs must disclose the following network performance characteristics:
Service Description: We currently use 802.11 a,g,n standards for fixed terrestrial wireless broadband service. Expected and actual speeds are the same. 2mbps download and 512k upload is our lowest available bandwidth offered. Real-time applications function well with our service.
Impact of Specialized Services: No specialized services are provided at this time.
Commercial Terms
ISPs must disclose the commercial terms of its broadband Internet access service including those listed below.
Pricing: Please see www.alohabroadband.com for a listing of our current prices. We do not have usage based fees and no contracts or early termination. We do require 6 months up front if the house in un-permitted.
Privacy Policies: We do not store browsing information. We do limited packet inspection to determine if the user is using bittorrent. We also monitor the amount of persistent connections open at one time. A high number of connections usually indicates bittorrent usage. We do not provide network usage information to third parties, or use it for non-network management purposes.
Redress Options: Customer complaints are handled timely and on a case by case basis.
FCC Notice
If a customer believes that these open Internet rules are not being met, the customer may file an informal complaint at the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC urges customers to submit any complaints via its website at the following address: HYPERLINK “http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm” http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm. Customers may also file a formal complaint at the FCC using Part 76 of the Commission’s rules.
