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Battery Backup Disclosure

PROVIDED WITH FIBER OPTICS

Your home phone service is provided with our state-of-the-art fiber optic network, and it requires A/C electric power to operate. To avoid a disruption of home voice service during a power outage – and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services, RTC Networks will install, or have previously installed, the battery backup power at this location.

Where to Obtain Your Battery Backup 
RTC would like to ensure that our customers are provided reliable backup batteries that allow you to continue to use your home voice services during a power outage. That is why we install a battery backup power for your home voice service, at no charge. The battery backup power source will also be replaced at no charge by RTC when needed.

What Your Backup Battery Can (and Can’t) Do for You 
The battery installed by RTC Networks is a backup unit and expected to last at least 8 hours on standby power. That means the backup battery should give you approximately 6 hours of talk time. If you require a battery backup with longer standby and talk time, you can purchase a 24-hour backup battery from RTC Networks for a one-time approximate cost of $199, which would be expected to last 24 hours on standby power and give you 18 hours of talk time. Be sure to purchase the battery model that matches the type of ONT that you have.  If the type of ONT that you have is a:

  • RTC ONT Style Calix 803G

The type of battery that you need is a:

  • Precision Power PP36L-12K-2 (Backup Battery for Calix 803G and Calix GP1101X-12 Volts.) [Calix GP1101X.]

If you live in a multiple dwelling unit (MDU), your backup battery may be in a shared location. If you live in a MDU and want to know where your battery backup is located, contact RTC Networks for location information. In an MDU situation, voice talk time may vary. Our backup battery does not provide power to any services other than voice. Home security systems, medical monitoring devices, routers and other equipment will not run on a home phone backup battery. Our backup battery does not provide power to any cordless telephones. In the event of a power outage, your cordless phones will not work. To have voice service you will need a standard, corded phone hooked up to a phone jack.

Instructions for Proper Care and Use of Your Battery
RTC Networks installs the battery according to manufacturer’s specifications. Environmental factors such as temperature can shorten your battery’s useful life. We recommend that you store your battery above 41°F and below 104°F. They will not last forever and should be replaced when your device starts to make a beeping sound, and/or the indicator light is no longer green. This indicates that the battery is depleted and must be replaced. You will need to contact RTC Networks at 701-862-3115 when your battery needs to be replaced.

Contact Information for Battery Power Backup 
If you have any questions regarding your battery power backup or if you would like to purchase a 24-hour battery backup, please contact RTC Networks at 701-862-3115 or email us at info@myrtcnetworks.com.

Battery Backup Disclosure

Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI)

Special Notice Regarding Your Account Information

From time to time, RTC Networks changes its service offerings and makes available additional features and services, which may enhance and augment the service to which you are already subscribed. In order for us to determine which customers may benefit from the new services and enhancements, we will use information about your account from our databases, legally referred to as Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) unless you restrict that use in the manner described below. CPNI includes information such as the long-distance carrier and calling plan to which you are subscribed, calling features and plans to which you are subscribed, calling patterns and usage of various features, and charges associated with the services you subscribe to. Use of this data will allow RTC Networks to identify service offerings to meet your individual needs.

For this purpose, CPNI data will be used by RTC Networks and its affiliates only. This data will not be shared by RTC Networks with any other outside source except as necessary and required to provide the service(s) to which you are already subscribed, and unless we are legally compelled to do so.

You have the right under federal law to protect the confidentiality of your account information and restrict the use of CPNI data, and we have a responsibility to protect your data. To restrict the use of your CPNI data, you must call the business office toll-free at 0811 or 1.888.862.3115 during regular business hours, or email us at rtc@RTC.coop. Your denial or approval for RTC Networks to use this data will not affect the provision of any services to which you subscribe. You may change your decision at any time and your decision will remain valid until you tell us otherwise. Again, we will only use your account information to market other telecommunications services and products RTC Networks offers, and no action is required unless you wish to restrict our use of your CPNI. You will still receive monthly bill inserts, newsletters, and other publications that are sent to all customers so that you are kept up to date on what is happening at RTC Networks.

We look forward to being able to serve your telecom needs more efficiently with new and existing products and services based on the information we know about your account.

Do-Not-Call-Notification

Register your number on the National Do-Not-Call Registry

A national Do-Not-Call Registry has been established to address unwelcome
telemarketing calls. The registry applies to all telemarketers, with the exception of businesses with whom you have an existing relationship and certain nonprofit and political organizations. Commercial telemarketers are not allowed to call you if your number is listed on the registry.

Consumers may register their residential and wireless telephone numbers on the national Do-Not-Call Registry at no cost, either by phone or the Internet. To register by phone, call 1.888.382.1222. For TTY, call 1.866.290.4236. You must call from the telephone number you wish to register. You also may register, or obtain additional information, via the Internet at www.donotcall.gov.

Inclusion of your telephone number on the national Do-Not-Call Registry will be effective 31 days following your registration. Your number will remain on the registry permanently. You can also remove your number from the list at any time.

The Federal Communications Commission requires that this notice be provided to our customers on an annual basis.

Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) Annual Notice

Universal Service is based on the principle that all Americans should have access to a baseline level of voice and broadband internet access service. Landline (voice) services include local usage at no additional charge, 911 emergency access, and toll limitation services to qualifying low-income consumers. Voice and broadband internet services are available from RTC Networks (Reservation Telephone Cooperative) in these areas: Alexander, Arnegard, Beach, Garrison, Keene, Kenmare, Makoti, Medora, New Town, Parshall, Plaza, Stanley, White Sheild, and Watford City.

Effective July 1, 2022, monthly charges for these universal services are:

Basic local residential service     $22.46
(Including extended area service

Broadband Internet Access starting at     $80 (100 x 100 Mbps)

Access to emergency service     No additional charge
(Local government may assess a fee to pay for special equipment)

Toll Blocking     $0.00

LOW INCOME PROGRAMS
Lifeline (Wireless, Landline or Broadband discount)     12/1/2022 

Landline     $5.25

Broadband     $9.25

(Toll blocking to prevent long distance calls from your phone is available at no charge to qualifying low-income consumers)

Tribal Lifeline                                                                         

Tribal Lifeline provides up to a $34.25 discount on the monthly bill for primary home phone or broadband service for residents of tribal lands.

Tribal Link-Up

Tribal Link Up provides a discount (up to $100) off initial hook up for primary home service. Available to customers who live on Tribal Land.                         

Fixed Federal, State and Local Prescribed Charges
Federal Subscriber Line Charge:

Residential & Single Line Business     $6.50
Multi-Line Business     $9.20

Universal Service Contribution Factor     28.9%
Telecommunications Relay Service     $.03
E911 Emergency Services     $1.00 – $2.00
Access Recovery Charge     $3.00

IP-Enabled Enhanced 911 (E911) Disclosure

DISCLOSURE CONCERNING IP-ENABLED 9-1-1 SERVICES

1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Disclosure, the following capitalized terms are defined as follows:

“Dispatchable Location” means the Service Address and additional data that would permit a PSAP and emergency responders to locate a 9-1-1 caller in a reasonable amount of time. The Dispatchable Location may be the same as or different from the Service Address.

“E911 Service” means emergency calling by which a 9-1-1 call is routed to the PSAP assigned to the Service Address and information regarding the Dispatchable Location is provided to the PSAP.

“IP Services” means communications services using internet protocol (IP) in their delivery, including session initiation protocol (SIP), voice over internet protocol (VoIP), hosted IP voice or similar IP-based technologies or applications.

“MLTS” means a multi-line telephone system.

“NG911 Service” means E911 Service initiated and/or completed using IP Services. Depending on the capability of the IP Services and PSAP, NG911 may include not only voice but also multimedia data and geospatial location information.

“PSAP” means a public safety answering point for emergency 9-1-1 calls.

“Service Address” means the physical address provided by the customer and assigned to or associated with a telephone number provided by the Company.

2. Disclosure. NG911 Service works differently than traditional wireline and wireless E911 Service. These differences depend on the services, equipment and devices used to make the emergency call and on the location of the user making the call. Customers with NG911 Services are responsible for informing employees, guests, and other persons who may be present at the Service Address of the important differences and limitations of NG911 Service as compared to traditional wireline or wireless E911 Service. If a customer is uncomfortable with any of the terms, conditions, or limitations of NG911 Service described in this Disclosure, the customer may wish to consider also maintaining an emergency landline at the Service Address.

3. Dispatchable Locations for Emergency Calling. The Company will obtain from all customers a registered Service Address for all IP Services and/or equipment, including the Dispatchable Location where equipment will be installed, and service will be used. For any services utilizing an MLTS environment, the customer may be required to provide multiple Dispatchable Locations. Complete and accurate Service Address and Dispatchable Location information is essential for emergency responders to locate any users dialing 9-1-1 from a device at the location. The Company will not provide IP Services to a customer on an active telephone number and will not activate a telephone number that is intended to have NG911 Service, unless and until a Service Address, Dispatchable Location and any other required information has been provided to the Company. The registered Service Address and Dispatchable Location will be associated with a telephone number, which will be used to determine the closest PSAP when 9-1-1 is dialed. Before a customer changes the registered Service Address or Dispatchable Location associated with a telephone number or moves any service, equipment or device, it is important to contact the Company, so that the Company can confirm that the registered Service Address and Dispatchable Location are properly updated. The customer is solely responsible for providing the Company with complete and accurate Service Address and Dispatchable Location information for each telephone number and for keeping such information updated.

4. Functional Limitations of IP Services. IP Services, including NG911 Service, are subject to the following disclaimers and limitations:

i. NG911 Service will not operate in the event of a power failure or disruption. Should there be an interruption in power, IP Services (including NG911 Service) will not function until power is restored. Please note, customer premises equipment or devices may need to be reset. Customers may contact the Company for information and options concerning battery or other back-up power.

ii. NG911 Service will not operate if a broadband connection is disrupted. Service outages, interruptions or degradation of broadband service, or termination or suspension of service for any reason, will prevent use of IP Services, including NG911 Service.

iii. Failure to provide an accurate Service Address or Dispatchable Location for a telephone number may result in 911 calls being routed to the incorrect local PSAP and/or emergency responders being dispatched to the incorrect location. NG911 Service may not function, or calls may be routed to emergency responder who will not be able to assist if service, equipment or a device is moved to a different street address or location other than the registered Service Address and Dispatchable Location. It may take several days for any change in a registered Service Address or Dispatchable Location to be processed. The customer must notify the Company in advance of any changes to a registered Service Address or Dispatchable Location.

iv. Calls made using IP Services may be delayed or dropped due to the technical constraints of IP Services and underlying network architecture. Because of differences in technology, the impacts of network congestion, and/or reduced speed in the routing of emergency calls made utilizing NG911 Services are different than if the calls were made using traditional (non-IP) public switched telephone networks. If a 9-1-1 call cannot be completed, is dropped or disconnected for any reason, the PSAP and emergency responders may not be able to identify a phone number in order to call back. The Company relies on third party carriers for assistance in routing NG911 calls to local PSAPs or a national emergency calling center. The Company disclaims all responsibility and assumes no liability for the conduct of local PSAPs and the national emergency calling center and any third party carriers or service providers.

5. Limitations on Liability. The Company is not responsible for any service outages related to the loss of electrical power, connectivity, suspension, or termination of broadband Internet services, failure of third party IP technologies or applications, or other circumstances beyond Company’s reasonable control, including any failures resulting from events such as (but not limited to) acts of God, acts of nature, strikes, fire, war, riot, acts of terrorism and government actions. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws or regulations, the Company is not responsible for and shall have no liability relating to the performance of NG911 Service provisioned by any other telecommunications carrier or IP services provider, even if such service is accessed using the equipment or underlying IP Services provided by the Company.

6. Indemnification. In addition to any other indemnification obligations under applicable service contracts or terms of service (but without any duplication of recovery), the customer shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless against any and all damages, claims and expenses resulting from the customer’s failure to comply with any of the customer’s requirements or responsibilities described herein, including without limitation: (a) failing to provide a Service Address, Dispatchable Location or other required information; (b) providing an incomplete or inaccurate Service Address, Dispatchable Location or other required information; (c) failing to promptly update a Service Address or Dispatchable Location information in the event such address, location or information has changed or (d) the use of any service, equipment or devices at a location other than the Service Address and Dispatchable Location.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

VoIP Phone Service Disclosure

If you have selected VoIP Phone Service, you acknowledge and understand that VoIP service is different in a number of important ways from traditional phone service, and you agree to inform any household residents, guests and other third persons who may be present at the physical location where you utilize the Service of the differences and limitations of the Service. Such differences include but are not limited to: The 911 service may not function in the event of power failure, or outage of, or termination of service with or by your Internet/service provider and calls from your location to any Enhanced 911 emergency center will report the physical address you provided when the service was initiated. To learn more about the limitations, read the full IP-Enabled Enhanced 911 (E911) Disclosure in the following section.

If you are unsure if you have VoIP or Traditional Phone Service with RTC Networks, please call our office and a member service professional will assist you.