Mid-Rivers Open Internet Policy

Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (Mid-Rivers), as a broadband service provider, hereby discloses to the public the network management practices, performance characteristics, and terms and conditions of our broadband Internet services as required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "Preserving the Open Internet" rule.  To view the Mid-Rivers Mobile Open Internet Policy, please visit http://www.midrivers.com/mobile-internet-policy.

Mid-Rivers serves a very large, sparsely-populated geographic area, which requires the use of multiple technologies to deploy broadband in the most efficient and affordable manner possible. As a result, not all technologies or speeds are available in every area. The availability of a specific technology or service type is dependent upon a customer's geographic location and, in some cases, the customer's location in relationship to the location of the deployed facilities. The diversity of facilities deployed throughout the large Mid-Rivers service area precludes the presentation of a siimple matrix showing service availability in any specific area, but customer-specific information about choices among technologies and services available in any specific location is available by contacting Mid-Rivers at 1-800-452-2288 or sending an email to mrtc@midrivers.coop.

The matrix below in the "Commercial Terms" section summarizes the required service description disclosures by the type of technology used to provide the service. This information details those service offerings that are generally commercially available depending on a customer's location at the current time. Mid-Rivers considers reasonable customer requests for alternative speeds or combinations of speeds in areas where the necessary facilities are available.

Mid-Rivers does not currently employ any network management practices that would affect a customer's Internet experience or ability to access any specific applications.  Our terrestrial fixed broadband Internet offerings are not currently subject to any usage limits, though services resold through satellite Internet provider WildBlue are subject to the limitations described below.  Mid-Rivers does not block or rate-control traffic based on IP address source, IP address destination, protocol or packet content.  Mid-Rivers' Internet customers are allowed to:

1. access the lawful Internet content of their choice,
2. run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement,
3. connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network, and
4. access the network providers, application and service providers, and content providers of their choice.

Mid-Rivers utilizes reasonable network management practices to help ensure the security of our network for our Internet customers and other customers that may receive data from the end-users on our network.  Examples of the network management activities that are employed by Mid-Rivers include:

1. detecting malicious Internet traffic to prevent the distribution of harmful viruses or content
2. preventing the delivery of SPAM to our customers' accounts
3. preventing the sending of SPAM by our customers

Customers may choose to opt out of SPAM filtering services, and also have the option to adjust their individual SPAM filter settings.  Customers have access to all filtered content through their emailGUARD Dashboard, which is accessible from the Mid-Rivers homepage and from emailGUARD Digest e-mail messages sent to each customer (unless the customer opts out of receiving these Digest messages).  To learn more about our emailGUARD filtering service, customers may visit http://www.midrivers.com/about-email-guard/.

Occasionally Mid-Rivers will receive a complaint that a Mid-Rivers Internet customer has a computer, server or router that is configured in such a way that other Internet users have noticed SPAM or other harmful network traffic coming from that device, or that the device is being used to access content illegally.  Such reports will trigger a notification from Mid-Rivers to the end-user customer, and we will work with that customer to resolve the potential security concerns.

Mid-Rivers provides WildBlue satellite Internet services through a resale arrangement to customer in areas where the facilities needed to provide our terrestrial fixed broadband offerings are not yet available.  As a reseller of this service, Mid-Rivers has no control over the usage limits or rate-control practices enforced by WildBlue.  For detailed information on the WildBlue network management practices, performance characteristics and pricing, please visit http://www.wildblue.com/. 

Mid-Rivers does not currently have any restrictions on the types of legal devices that can be connected to our Internet network.  Customers may connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network.  Mid-Rivers will work with each customer and each device on a case-by-case basis to resolve any connection issues that may arise.  Any such connection issues are due to the capabilities of the device itself and are not a result of any network management practices by Mid-Rivers.

Pricing

Mid-Rivers does not currently charge any usage-based fees on our fixed broadband service offerings.  Early termination fees may apply for customers taking advantage of free or reduced-price equipment offers.  Free e-mail addresses, up to 10 MB of web page space, and emailGUARD e-mail filtering service are all provided with each Internet subscription; services such as additional virus protection and online backup are available for an additional monthly fee.  Mid-Rivers' standard monthly Internet rates for commercially available residential and business Internet offerings are summarized in the following table.

*Mid-Rivers has developed and reviews on a regular basis a methodology for tracking the accuracy of the speed and latency information presented here.  These procedures are consistent with standard industry practice, utilizing the same software and testing timeframes used by participants in the FCC's broadband performance measurement project.  Testing is conducted across geographic areas to insure that measurements are accurate across the network.  As a reseller of WildBlue satellite service, Mid-Rivers has no control over the performance characteristics or speed test methodologies utilized by WildBlue - please visit http://www.wildblue.com to view the WildBlue Open Internet disclosures.

**Rates listed do not include any promotional or other types of discounts that may be available.  Monthly rates listed for all Mid-Rivers Internet offerings (excluding WildBlue satellite service) are available to Mid-Rivers High-Speed Internet customers who also subscribe to Mid-Rivers Local Telephone Service OR Mid-Rivers Cable Television Service.  An additional $15 per month will apply to customers who do not subscribe to Mid-Rivers Local Telephone or Mid-Rivers Cable Television.

Privacy Policies

While working with a customer to troubleshoot connection issues or other matters, Mid-Rivers may occasionally collect information on network traffic specific to that particular incident.  This information is used only for network troubleshooting purposes, and only information on packet source, destination, and port number is collected.  Packet payload information (information other than the header information) is not examined in this process.  This information is not stored by Mid-Rivers, provided to any third party, or utilized for any other purpose such as marketing.

Questions & Complaints

Mid-Rivers takes seriously and responds to all complaints about our subscribers' use of the Internet.  This includes complaints by both the Company's subscribers and complaints by other Internet users.  The Company believes that its customers should be able to enjoy full use of the Internet without interference by persons who use the Internet in an improper or unlawful manner.

Mid-Rivers will respond to any complaint from end-users and content or application providers, following the Complaint Response Procedures described below.

How to Submit a Complaint:

1.  Form of Complaint

• Complaints may be submitted in any form:  by e-mail (mrtc@midrivers.coop), fax (406-485-2924), or mail to PO Box 280, Circle, MT 59215.

2.  What Information Should be Submitted

If you wish to register a network management complaint with our Customer Services department, you should submit the following information, preferably through an e-mail message submitted to mrtc@midrivers.coop:

• A detailed description of the activities involved
• The dates the activities took place, e.g., the date and time that a possible network management concern was observed

If you have any questions regarding this Open Internet Policy, please call Mid-Rivers at 1-800-452-2288.

For additional information on the terms, conditions, and online policies applicable to Mid-Rivers Internet customers, please review the Mid-Rivers Internet Service Agreement and the Mid-Rivers Internet Online Policies that can also be found on this website.