Sunflower Broadband Policy Statement on Network Non-Discrimination
Sunflower Broadband ("Sunflower" or "The Company") agrees with and will comply with the intent of FCC Broadband Policy Statement FCC 05-151, adopted August 5, 2005. Sunflower has a track record of operating a network where end-users enjoy freedom to connect to its network, access content, run applications, use services without restrictions, and without deep packet inspection. Sunflower has successfully deployed a metered billing plan that has been in place for over 4 years. Customers whose usage is in the top 10-15% pay more in order to keep services to the majority of customers as affordable as possible. This policy allows Sunflower to offer plans below $20 and has facilitated adoption rates over 50%. All pricing plans and policies are fully disclosed in its marketing materials and website. (See Supplemental Material). Sunflower does not require bundling with e-mail, Internet or anti-virus providers. Sunflower allows peer-to-peer traffic, video, VOIP, and on-line gaming without restriction* and aids subscribers who wish to connect wireless access points to its network. Residential class service is prohibited from commercial applications to provide the best quality of service to both customer classes. Commercial applications include, but are not limited to, business web site hosting, resold Internet service, and services like bulk email or data storage. The network is maintained to industry standards that promote the open use of applications, services and devices. Sunflower reserves the right to restrict service to anyone that is deemed to be intentionally or unintentionally adversely affecting the public Internet or Sunflower’s customers, services or network. In the unlikely event that Sunflower’s network management policies are in conflict with a user’s legitimate needs, Sunflower will submit to binding private arbitration to resolve compliance with the FCC’s Internet Policy Statement.
*To ensure that every end-user has a beneficial experience that does not harm the network or the general public, standards of network protection are used. Traffic crossing Sunflower’s borders is monitored to ensure that harmful activities or attacks are not passed into its network or from its realm into the general Internet cloud. A statement in the end user agreement informs subscribers of Sunflower’s right to intervene if harm is occurring to the network or other end users and if intervention is instructed by law enforcement entities.
Sunflower Broadband Policy Statement on Network Interconnect
Sunflower Broadband operates in an open and interconnected environment. Multiple connections to the public Internet are highly reliable, readily available and scaled to grow in through-put as network management decides. Sunflower connects to a number of other fiber-optic networks to provide as much access to content for its subscribers and partners as is technically and economically feasible. This allows for redundant services to minimize any loss of services. Sunflower will interconnect with any party at no charge other than direct costs to create and maintain such connections and as long as such interconnection does not adversely affect the stability or reliability of the network. In the unlikely event that Sunflower’s network management policies are in conflict with a user’s legitimate need, The Company will submit to binding private arbitration to resolve compliance with FCC 05-151, dated August 5, 2005.
Sunflower Broadband Fiber-to-the-Prairie Open Access Policy Statement
To promote access to the proposed Fiber-to-the-Prairie network and to maximize revenue potential from the project, Sunflower Broadband will make excess fiber capacity available to any party based on non-discriminatory terms and conditions that reflect a lower than market rate for those services.