Network Management Policy

Network Management Policy

Northern Wireless (“Northern Wireless” or “Company”) provides this Network Transparency Statement in accordance with the FCC’s Restore Internet Freedom Rules to ensure that you have sufficient information to make informed choices about the purchase of internet services. Information about Northern Wireless’ other policies and practices concerning internet are available at www.northern-wireless.com (“Northern Wireless Website”).

Northern Wireless engages in network management practices that are tailored and appropriate for achieving optimization on the network considering the particular network architecture and technology of its Internet access service. Northern Wireless’ goal is to ensure that all of its customers experience a safe and secure Internet environment that is fast, reliable and affordable. Northern Wireless wants its customers to utilize all that the Internet has to offer, whether it is social networking, streaming videos and music, to communicating through email and videoconferencing.

Northern Wireless’s network management includes congestion and security-protocol-management and customers generally will not be impacted by the protocols and practices that Northern Wireless uses to manage its network.

A. Northern Wireless’s Network Transparency Disclosures
Northern Wireless uses various tools and industry standard techniques to manage its network and deliver fast, secure and reliable Internet service. Northern Wireless believes in full transparency and provides the following disclosures about its network management practices:

  1. Blocking: Northern Wireless does not block or discriminate against lawful content or non-malicious Internet traffic.
  2. Throttling: Northern Wireless does not throttle, impair or degrade lawful and non- malicious Internet traffic.
  3. Affiliated Prioritization: Northern Wireless does not prioritize Internet traffic.
  4. Paid Prioritization: Northern Wireless does not engage in paid prioritization. We don’t prioritize Internet for consideration to benefit particular content, applications, services or devices.
  5. Congestion Management: Northern Wireless monitors the connections on its network on a daily basis to determine the rate of utilization. If congestion emerges on the network, Northern Wireless will take the appropriate measures to relieve congestion.

On Northern Wireless’s network, all customers have access to all legal services, applications and content online and, in the event of congestion, most Internet activities will be unaffected. Some customers, however, may experience longer download or upload times, or slower surf speeds on the web if instances of congestion do occur on Northern Wireless’ network.

Customers using conduct that abuses or threatens the Northern Wireless network or which violates the Company’s Acceptable Use Policy, Internet Service Terms and Conditions, or the Internet Service Agreement will be asked to stop any such use immediately. A failure to respond or to cease any such conduct could result in service suspension or termination.

Northern Wireless’s network and congestion management practices are ‘application-agnostic’, based on current network conditions, and are not implemented on the basis of customers’ online activities, protocols or applications. Northern Wireless’s network management practices do not relate to any particular customer’s aggregate monthly data usage.

Northern Wireless monitors its network on a daily basis to determine utilization on its network. Northern Wireless also checks for abnormal traffic flows, network security breaches, malware, loss, and damage to the network. If a breach is detected or high volume users are brought to light by complaint, Northern Wireless provides notification to the customer via email, sms (“text message”), or phone. If a violation of Northern Wireless’s policies has occurred and such violation is not remedied, Northern Wireless will seek to suspend or terminate that customer’s service.

  1. Application-Specific Behavior: Except as may be provided elsewhere herein, Northern Wireless does not currently engage in any application-specific behaviors on its network. Customers may use any lawful applications with Northern Wireless.
  2. Device Attachment Rules: Customers must use an approved router or modem for internet connections between devices on the network. There is a limit of one (1) router per account. For best results, DSL modems, wireless modems, or other proprietary network gateways used on the Northern Wireless internet network should be provided by Northern Wireless. Customers may attach devices of their choosing to their modems, including wired or wireless routers, laptops, desktop computers, video game systems, televisions, or other network-enabled electronics equipment. However, customers are responsible for ensuring that their equipment does not harm Northern Wireless’s network or impair the service of other customers. Northern Wireless is not responsible for the functionality or compatibility of any equipment provided by its customers. Customers are responsible for securing their own equipment to prevent unauthorized access to Northern Wireless’s intenret network by third parties and will be held responsible for the actions of such third parties who gain unauthorized access through unsecured customer equipment.
  3. Network Security: Northern Wireless knows the importance of securing its network and customers from network threats and annoyances. The Company promotes the security of its network and patrons by protections from such threats as spam, viruses, firewall issues, and phishing schemes. Certain common ports used for spam or illegal activities may be blocked by Northern Wireless’ systems. For example port 25 outbound for SMTP is blocked by default, and customers can request to be placed on the allow list if they provide appropriate justification to Northern Wireless in writing or via email.

As its normal practice, Northern Wireless does not block any common protocols (except afore mentioned ports), content or traffic for purposes of network management, but Northern Wireless may block or limit such traffic as spam, viruses, malware, botnets, or denial of service attacks to protect network integrity and the security of our customers.

B. Network Performance

  1. Service Descriptions

Northern Wireless deploys Internet access to its subscribers through multiple mediums of access utilizing Copper, Fiber and Fixed Terrestrial Wireless, depending on the location. More information on the internet services provided by Northern Wireless can be found at northern-wireless.com, or by calling our business office at 1-888-880-9035.

  1. Network Performance

Northern Wireless makes every effort to support advertised speeds and will attempt to troubleshoot and resolve speed and application performance issues on Northern Wireless’s network. Northern Wireless measures utilization on the network and strives to meet internal service level targets.

However, the bandwidth speed at which a particular distant website or other Internet resources may be downloaded, or the speed at which your customer information may be uploaded to a distant website or Internet location is affected by factors beyond Northern Wireless’s control, including the speed of the connection from a distant web server to the Internet, congestion on intermediate networks, and/or limitations on your own computer equipment, including a wireless router. In addition, your service performance may be affected by the inside wiring at your premise. Accordingly, you, the customer, must consider the capabilities of your own equipment when choosing a Northern Wireless intenret service. Your computers and/or wireless or other networks in your homes or offices may need an upgrade in order to take full advantage of the chosen Northern Wireless internet plan.

Northern Wireless measures traffic every 5 min for Copper, Fiber and Fixed Terrestrial Wireless services. All services are best effort.

Northern Wireless tests internet speeds at the time of the order to upgrade service to demonstrate that the service is capable of supporting the advertised speed. If tests indicate that customer location is not able to receive advertised speed, customer is notified prior to service upgrade. Customer will be advised if the expected speed is unknown, such as during new installation on Fixed Terrestrial Wireless systems. Customers may also test their actual speeds using the speed test located at https://speedtest.northern-wireless.com Northern Wireless’s website and may request assistance by calling our business office at 1-888-880-9035.

Information on actual download and upload speeds aggregated for Northern Wireless’s service area during recent network performance monitoring efforts can be found by calling our business office at 1-888-880-9035 or via email [email protected].

  1. Impact of Non-BIAS Data Services

The FCC has defined Non-Broadband Internet Access Services (Non-BIAS) to include services offered by broadband providers that share capacity with Broadband Internet Access Services (BIAS) (previously known as “Specialized Services”) also offered by the provider over the last-mile facilities. At this time, Northern Wireless is not offering any non-BIAS data services.

C. Commercial Terms
Pricing and additional service information may be found at www.northern-wireless.com.

In addition to this Network Transparency Statement, patrons may also find links to the following on the Northern Wireless Website:

Privacy Policy
Acceptable Use Policy
For questions, complaints or requests for additional information, please contact Northern Wireless at 1-888-880-9035 or [email protected].