Network Management Policy

NETWORK MANAGEMENT POLICY

Reservation Telephone Cooperative d/b/a RTC Networks (“RTC”) commits to using reasonable network management practices, and to manage its network and provide access in accordance with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) rules. The FCC prohibits providers of Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS) from engaging in blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices, subject to reasonable network management. Reasonable network management includes avoiding congestion, combating harmful illegal content, and responding to legitimate safety and security issues. RTC’s policies regarding network management practices are outlined herein, in an effort to inform you of RTC’s network performance, management practices, and terms of service.

Network Practices

Congestion Management. RTC monitors the connections on its network to determine rate of utilization. If congestion appears on the network RTC will make all efforts to route traffic to relieve the congestion. Congestion due to malfunctioning hardware and/or software will be remedied as quickly as network engineers can diagnose and identify the offending hardware / software. Congestion due to malice will be remedied using any technique available, including protocol-aware filtering and rate-limiting, to control and limit the offending source. RTC may seek criminal charges against those who inflict network malice. RTC may also attempt to recover costs incurred from network malice.

RTC reserves the right to prioritize traffic based on real time and non-real time applications during heavy congestion periods based on generally accepted technical measures. RTC reserves the right to set speed thresholds on the amount of data you as a customer can upload and download within stated time periods. If you exceed these thresholds, RTC may temporarily limit the speed at which you can send and receive data over the RTC access network. RTC may use other traffic management and prioritization tools to help ensure equitable access to the RTC network for all customers. Excessive bandwidth or hardware usage that adversely affects RTC’s ability to provide its Internet or any other service may result in additional account management and fees.

RTC reserves the right to monitor customer usage and evaluate on an individual account basis bandwidth or hardware utilization to efficiently manage the performance of the network to ensure a sustainable quality broadband service is provided.  Peak network usage is between 4 pm and 11 pm Monday – Friday and 10 am – 11 pm Saturday and Sunday.

User-Based Practices. RTC does not target specific users or user groups for congestion management.

Blocking or Throttling. RTC reserves the right to disconnect or limit any account access to the Internet that in the opinion of its system administrator is a threat to the security or lawful operation of the Internet service or the service’s software and/or hardware or that repeatedly violates the terms of its Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or other terms of service. RTC reserves the right, but does not assume the responsibility, to block or limit access to content that violates its AUP. RTC will not unjustly or unreasonably block access to lawful content, applications, services or non-harmful devices, subject to reasonable network management. RTC also will not unjustly or unreasonably (other than reasonable network management elsewhere disclosed) degrade or impair access to lawful Internet traffic based on content, application, service, user, or use of non-harmful devices, including a description of what is throttled and when.

Affiliated or Paid Prioritization. RTC does not unjustly or unreasonably favor some traffic over other traffic including through use of techniques such as traffic shaping, prioritization, or resource reservation, to benefit an affiliate or in exchange for consideration, monetary or other benefit.

Zero Rating. RTC does not engage in zero rating.

Application-Specific Behavior. RTC does not make use of any application-specific network management practices. RTC does not modify protocol fields in ways not prescribed by the protocol standard. RTC does not inhibit or favor certain applications or classes of applications. RTC does not block or rate-control specific protocols or protocol ports, except for malformed or non-standard protocol traffic as identified by RTC. RTC reserves the right to block outbound Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) from residential IP addresses to protect against unsolicited commercial email (UCE) or spam.

Device Attachment Rules. RTC does not have any approval procedures that must be satisfied before a device can be connected to its network. Devices connecting to RTC’s network must conform to general public standards and be non-harmful to the network, and do not interfere with RTC network or ability to provide services. Customer owned equipment are not supported by RTC.

Security

RTC engages in the security guidelines set out by the FCC and security best practices that have been provided by NIST & CISA regarding RTC’s role as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This does not include any potential harm or damage brought on by the user, and the user’s computing system, device, and network. RTC holds no liability to the user’s computer system while connected to the network.

Performance Characteristics

Service Description. The advertised speed of RTC’s Internet service is the maximum bandwidth throughput that is available and achievable with the technology utilized by RTC. Advertised speeds/latencies can be found in our Broadband Labels located at https://myrtcnetworks.com. Our customer serving networks are comprised of various access platform technologies that deliver Internet service. Some characteristics of generally available Internet access by type:

· FTTH (Fiber-to-the-home) supports up to 1 Gig for residential or 10 Gig for business.

· DSL/VDSL (Copper) supports up to 100 Mbps.

Several factors may affect the actual bandwidth throughput of RTC’s Internet service offerings. This includes but is not limited to distance between service point and RTC’s central office as well as the customer’s computer, modem or router used. Internet traffic and activity during peak usage periods may also impact the available bit rate.

Testing. RTC is required by the FCC to test a random set of customers for speed and latency throughout the year. RTC reports these results to the FCC. This test result applies to upload and download speeds and is done at peak times and over a 24-hour period.

Impact of Non-BIAS Data Services:

RTC offers non-BIAS data services such as VoIP, IP Video, and Business Data Services to their customers and provides such services equally.

RTC does not engage in any form of net-bias including but not limited to unlawful throttling & blocking, tiered service, metering, or discrimination. Throttling and blocking is only done in response to potentially harmful or illegal acts detected on the user’s traffic.

RTC in accordance with FCC guidelines does provide priority bandwidth to emergency services such as but not limited to 911, Fire, Police, and Ambulance. This priority bandwidth for first responders and emergency services lasts the duration of the call and no longer, which normal non-bias bandwidth continues.

Commercial Terms

Pricing

Information regarding these prices can be found at the RTC website, where you can find additional information regarding business and residential prices and other services provided or included in the purchase of the services. Click Here.

Below is a brief overview of RTC and its speeds and prices thereof.

Residential

Speed – Price – Connection – Caps

1 Gbps – $125 /Mo – Fiber – No Data Caps

500 Mbps – $105 /Mo – Fiber – No Data Caps

100 Mbps – $80 /Mo  -Fiber/Copper  -No Data Caps

(Prices may be subject to change)

Business

Speed – Price – Connection – Caps

10 Gbps – $975 /Mo – Fiber – No data caps

1 Gbps – $200 /Mo – Fiber – No data caps

500 Mbps – $150 /Mo – Fiber – No data caps

100 Mbps – $100 /Mo – Fiber – No data caps

(Prices may be subject to change)

Privacy Policies

Our Privacy Policy can be found at https://myrtcnetworks.com/. RTC does not inspect user traffic without cause i.e. misuse, abuse, or potential harm to the network, and in accordance and cooperation with State & Federal agencies and statutes.

RTC retains and stores certain traffic information (such as the identity of the customer using a particular IP address during a specific period) for time periods required by federal or state law. RTC retains, stores, and provides to law enforcement any traffic information requested pursuant to the procedures of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (“CALEA”), the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (“FISA”) or other applicable national security or criminal statutes.

Redress Options

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Network Management Policy, please contact us via phone at 701-862-3115 or on this site here Contact Us.