I. Information Collection
We are committed to respecting your privacy and the privacy of all visitors to our website. We and our Service Providers have partnered together to provide various internet services to our subscribers and web visitors (collectively referred to hereafter as "ISP"). ISP is the sole owner of the information collected this website. ISP may collect information from visitors to the web sites ("users") at different places on the ISPs web sites in order to provide services to the users and to improve such services.
User Registration
During registration a User is required to provide contact information (such as name, mailing address, telephone numbers, and email address). ISP uses this information to maintain contact with the User as is necessary pursuant to the subscription agreement. Users must also provide financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date) when subscribing to the ISP service. This information is used for billing and payment purposes. In the event ISP has trouble processing an order, that information is used to contact the User.
II. Information Use
Profile
ISP may collect and store information from cookies, log files, clear gifs, and/or third parties to create a user's profile. A "Profile" is stored information that ISP maintains on individual Users that details their viewing preferences. Consequently, collected information may be tied to the user's personally identifiable information to provide offers and improve the content of the site for the user. This profile is used to tailor a user's visit to the web sites, and to direct pertinent marketing promotions to them. While it is not a common practice, ISP may share profile information with third parties. Profile information may be shared together with personally identifiable information.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on a user's computer tied to information about the user. ISP may use both session ID cookies and persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the browser, the cookie simply terminates. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on the user's hard drive for an extended period of time. Persistent cookies can be removed by following Internet browser help file directions.
By setting a cookie on a user's computer, users do not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while at the web sites. If a user rejects the cookie, the user will still be able to use the site. The only drawback to this is that the user may need to enter his or her password every time he or she accesses the site.
Log Files
Like most standard web site servers ISP's web sites use log files. This may include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user's movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information. IP addresses may be tied to personally identifiable information to enable web-based services. To manage user accounts and for other purposes, we may use tracking tools and utilities such as grep, traceroute, host, nslookup, or others.
Clear Gifs (Web Beacons/Web Bugs)
ISP may employ a software technology called clear gifs (a.k.a. Web Beacons/Web Bugs), that help it to better manage content on the web sites by informing it what content is effective. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of users. The main difference between the two is that clear gifs are invisible on the page and are much smaller, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Clear gifs are not tied to users' personally identifiable information.
III. Communications from ISP
Special Offers and Updates
ISP may send new Users a welcoming email to verify password, username, and acceptance of the subscription/user Agreement. Users may occasionally receive information on products, services, special deals, and the like offered by ISP.
Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance ISP may send an email notifying Users of the outage. Generally, Users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account. These communications are not promotional in nature.
ISP Service
ISP communicates with Users via email, regular mail and telephone on a regular basis to provide requested services and regarding issues related to User's services.
IV. Sharing
Legal Disclaimer
Though ISP makes every effort to preserve user privacy, ISP may need to disclose personal information when required by law when it has a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on ISP.
Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
ISP may share aggregated demographic information with partners or advertisers. This is not linked to any personally identifiable information.
These are the instances in which we will share users' personal information:
ISP DOES NOT Share Personal Information about users with any Third Parties except to provide services requested by our Users.
Service Providers
ISP may partner with third parties to provide specific services used by it’s subscribers. These partners may include but are not limited to visp.net an award winning wholesale internet services provider (collectively referred to hereafter as "ISP"). ISP may share names or other contact information with such parties so that they may provide services such as technical support to users. Third parties are not allowed to use personally identifiable information except for the purpose of providing these services.
Business Transitions
In the event ISP goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, the personal information of ISPs will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. Users will be notified prior to a change of use their personal information. If as a result of the business transition, a User's personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection the User will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.
Choice
Users are always notified when their information is being collected by any outside parties. We do this so users can make an informed choice as to whether or not they should proceed with services that require an outside party.
Links
ISP's web sites may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that ISP is not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by ISPs web sites.
Security
ISP takes every precaution to protect all users' information. When users submit sensitive information via ISP's web sites, their information is protected both online and off-line.
When the User End User Agreement or other online forms ask users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL. While on a secure page, such as the User End User Agreement and online order forms, the lock icon on the bottom of web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to un-locked, or open, when users are just 'surfing'.
While ISP uses SSL encryption to protect sensitive information online, the Company also does everything in our power to protect user information off-line. All user information, not just the sensitive information mentioned above, is restricted in ISP's offices. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job are granted access to personally identifiable information. ALL employees are kept up-to-date on Company security and privacy practices. Finally, the servers that store personally identifiable information are in a secure environment.
