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    Acceptable Usage Policy

    Published by FirstNet September 2023 

    Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP) 

    General Notice 

    Thank you for reading FirstNet's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). By accessing this website, or by contracting  UrbanConnect / UrbanX (a brand of FirstNet) for service, you agree, without limitation or qualification, to be bound  by this policy and the terms and conditions it contains, as well as any other additional terms, conditions, rules or  policies which are displayed to you in connection with this service/website. 

    The purpose of this AUP is to comply with the relevant laws of the Republic; to specify to customers and users of  our service/website what activities and online behaviour are considered an unacceptable use of the  service/website; to protect the integrity of our network and to specify the consequences that may flow from  undertaking such prohibited activities. 

    This document contains a number of legal obligations which you are presumed to be familiar with. As such, we  encourage you to read this document thoroughly.  

    FirstNet respects the rights of our customers and users of our services to freedom of speech and expression;  access to information; privacy; human dignity; religion, belief and opinion in accordance with our constitution.  We undertake not to interfere with any of those rights unless required to do so by law; unless those rights are  exercised for unlawful purposes; or unless the exercise of those rights threatens to cause harm to another  

    person or affect the integrity of our network. 

    ISPA membership and Code of Conduct 

    FirstNet confirms that in compliance with section 72 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25  of 2002, FirstNet is a member of the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) and has adopted and  implemented the association's official Code of Conduct, which can be viewed at http://www.ispa.org.za/code. 

    Unlawful Use 

    FirstNet's services/website may only be used for lawful purposes and activities. We prohibit any use of our  website/network including the transmission, storage and distribution of any material or content using our network  that violates any law or regulation of the Republic. This includes: 

    • Any violation of local and international laws prohibiting child pornography; obscenity; discrimination (including racial, gender or religious slurs) and hate speech; or speech designed to incite violence or hatred, or threats to cause bodily harm. 
    • Any activity designed to defame, abuse, stalk, harass or physically threaten any individual in the Republic or beyond its borders; including any attempt to link to, post, transmit or otherwise distribute any inappropriate or defamatory material. 
    • Any violation of Intellectual Property laws including materials protected by local and international copyright, trademarks and trade secrets. Moreover FirstNet cannot be held liable if you make any unlawful use of any multimedia content accessed through the search facility provided by FirstNet's network, or  otherwise available through access to our network, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes. 
    • Any violation of the individual's right to privacy, including any effort to collect personal data of third parties without their consent.
    • Any fraudulent activity whatsoever, including dubious financial practices, such as pyramid schemes; the impersonation of another subscriber without their consent; or any attempt to enter into a transaction with FirstNet on behalf of another subscriber without their consent. 
    • Any violation of the exchange control laws of the Republic.
    • Any activity that results in the sale, transmission or distribution of pirated or illegal software. • Failing to respond to a request by a recipient of unsolicited mail to be removed from any mailing or direct marketing list and continuing to send unsolicited mail following such a request for removal.

     

    Acceptable Usage Policy Published by FirstNet September 2023 

    Where any user resides outside of the Republic, permanently or temporarily, such user will be subject to the laws  of the country in which s/he is currently resident and which apply. On presentation of a legal order to do so, or  under obligation through an order for mutual foreign legal assistance, FirstNet will assist foreign law enforcement  agencies (LEA) in the investigation and prosecution of a crime committed using FirstNet's resources, including  the provisioning of all personal identifiable data. 

    Prohibited Activities 

    The following sections outline activities that are considered an unacceptable use of FirstNet's  services/network/website and also detail the guidelines for acceptable use of certain facilities/services, as the  case may be. 

    Threats to Network Security 

    Any activity which threatens the functioning, security and/or integrity of FirstNet's network is unacceptable. This  includes: 

    • Any efforts to attempt to gain unlawful and unauthorised access to the network or circumvent any of the security measures established by FirstNet for this goal;
    • Any effort to use FirstNet's equipment to circumvent the user authentication or security of any host, network or account ("cracking" or "hacking");
    • Forging of any TCP-IP packet header (spoofing) or any part of the header information in an email or a newsgroup posting;
    • Any effort to breach or attempt to breach the security of another user or attempt to gain access to any other person's computer, software, or data without the knowledge and consent of such person; • Any activity which threatens to disrupt the service offered by FirstNet through "denial of service attacks"; flooding of a network, or overloading a service or any unauthorised probes ("scanning" or "nuking") of  others' networks; 
    • Any activity which in any way threatens the security of the network by knowingly posting, transmitting, linking to or otherwise distributing any information or software which contains a virus; Trojan horse; worm, lock, mail bomb, cancelbot or other harmful, destructive or disruptive component. 
    • Any unauthorised monitoring of data or traffic on the network without FirstNet's explicit, written consent. • Any unsolicited mass mailing activity including direct marketing; spam and chain letters for commercial or other purposes, without the consent of the recipients of those mails.

    Public Space and Third Party Content and sites 

    In reading this AUP or in signing a service contract with FirstNet, you acknowledge that FirstNet has no power to  control the content of the information passing over the Internet and its applications, including e-mail; chat rooms;  news groups; or other similar fora, and that FirstNet cannot be held responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for  any of the abovementioned content, in any way for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of, or in  connection with your use of, or reliance on, any such content. 

    Our services also offer access to numerous third party webpages. You acknowledge that we exercise absolutely  no control over such third party content, or sites and in such cases, our network is merely a conduit or means of  access and transmission. This includes, but is not limited to, third party content contained on or accessible through  the FirstNet network websites and web pages or sites displayed as search results or contained within a directory  of links on the FirstNet network. It remains your responsibility to review and evaluate any such content, and that  any and all risk associated with the use of, or reliance on, such content rests with you. 

    Access to public Internet spaces, such as bulletin boards, Usenet groups, chat rooms and moderated forums is  entirely voluntary and at your own risk. 

    FirstNet employees do not moderate any of these services, or your communications, transmissions or use of  these services. We do not undertake any responsibility for any content contained therein, or for any breaches of  your right to privacy that you may experience as a result of accessing such spaces.

    Acceptable Usage Policy Published by FirstNet September 2023 

    Usenet Newsgroups 

    The customer is responsible for determining and familiarizing himself or herself with the written policies of a given  newsgroup before posting to it. 

    The customer must comply with these guidelines at all times which can be obtained from other users of the  newsgroup upon request, or from the group's administrators/moderators. 

    The following are prohibited practices with regard to Usenet newsgroups and FirstNet reserves the right to delete  and/or cancel posts which violate the following conditions: 

    • Excessive cross-posting of the same article to multiple newsgroups
    • Posting of irrelevant or off-topic material to newsgroups (also known as USENET spam). • Posting binaries to a non-binary newsgroup.
    • Posting adverts, solicitations, or any other commercial messages unless the guidelines of the newsgroup in question explicitly permit them.

      

    Unsolicited, Spam and Junk mail 

    Spam and unsolicited bulk mail are highly problematic practices. They affect the use and enjoyment of services  by others and often compromise network security. FirstNet will take swift and firm action against any user  engaging in any of the following unacceptable practices: 

    • Sending unsolicited bulk mail for marketing or any other purposes (political, religious or commercial) to people who have not consented to receiving such mail;
    • Operating or maintaining mailing lists without the express permission of all recipients listed; • Failing to promptly remove from lists invalid or undeliverable addresses or addresses of unwilling recipients or a recipient who has indicated s/he wishes to be removed from such list;
    • Using FirstNet's service to collect responses from unsolicited e-mail sent from accounts on other Internet hosts or e-mail services, that violate this AUP or the AUP of any other Internet service provider; • Including FirstNet's name in the header or by listing an IP address that belongs to FirstNet in any unsolicited email whether sent through FirstNet's network or not; 
    • Failure to secure a customer's mail server against public relay as a protection to themselves and the broader Internet community. Public relay occurs when a mail server is accessed by a third party from another domain and utilised to deliver mails, without the authority or consent of the owner of the mail server. Mail servers that are unsecured against public relay often become abused by unscrupulous  operators for spam delivery and upon detection such delivery must be disallowed. FirstNet reserves the  right to examine users' mail servers to confirm that no mails are being sent from the mail server through  public relay and the results of such checks can be made available to the user. FirstNet also reserves the  right to examine the mail servers of any users using FirstNet's mail servers for "smarthosting" (when the  user relays its mail via a FirstNet mail server to a mail server of its own or vica-versa) or similar services  at any time to ensure that the servers are properly secured against public relay. All relay checks will be  done in strict accordance with FirstNet's privacy policy. 

      

    Spam/virus Filtering 

    FirstNet provides a spam and virus filtering system to protect customers from unsolicited mail and viruses. The  customer acknowledges that this system might incorrectly identify a valid message as spam or as a virus and  consequently this message might not be delivered to the customer. The customer acknowledges and agrees that  FirstNet shall without limitation have no responsibility for, or liability in respect of any data lost as a result of this  system.

    Acceptable Usage Policy Published by FirstNet September 2023 

    FirstNet reserves the right to examine incoming or outgoing mail to the extent necessary to determine if it is  classified as spam. 

    Webmail 

    Webmail and other web based email services made available by FirstNet are provided on an "as is" basis without  representations, warranties or conditions of any kind, and the customer acknowledges and agrees that FirstNet shall have no responsibility for, or liability in respect of, any aspect of the Webmail services, including without  limitation for any lost or damaged data or any acts or omissions of FirstNet. As webmail storage space is limited,  some Webmail messages may not be processed due to space constraints or message limitations. 

    Webmail is provided to individuals and for personal use only. Any unauthorised commercial use of the Webmail  service, or resale of the Webmail service is expressly prohibited. 

    Protection of Minors 

    FirstNet prohibits customers from using FirstNet's service to harm or attempt to harm a minor, including, but not  limited to, by hosting, possessing, disseminating, distributing or transmitting material that is unlawful, including  child pornography. 

    Privacy and Confidentiality 

    FirstNet respects the privacy and confidentiality of our customers and users of our service. Please review our  privacy policy which details how we collect and use personal information gathered in the course of operating this  service. 

    User Responsibilities 

    Customers are responsible for any misuse of FirstNet's services that occurs through the customer's account. It is  the customer's responsibility to ensure that unauthorised persons do not gain access to or misuse FirstNet's  service. 

    FirstNet urges customers not to reply to unsolicited mail or "spam", not to click on any suggested links provided  in the unsolicited mail. Doing so remains the sole responsibility of the customer and FirstNet cannot be held liable  for the Customer being placed on any bulk mailing lists as a result. 

    Where the customer has authorised a minor to use any of the FirstNet's services or access its websites, you  accept that as the parent/legal guardian of that minor, you are fully responsible for: the online conduct of such  minor; controlling the minor's access to and use of any services or websites; and the consequences of any misuse  by the minor, including but not limited to transactions entered into by the minor using such access. 

    FirstNet cannot be held liable for any business dealings you have with any third parties on the Internet, including  any vendors, or advertisers found on, or through, the FirstNet network. Further, FirstNet assumes no responsibility  whatsoever for any charges you or any user of your account incurs when making purchases or other transactions  in this manner. Further, the responsibility for ensuring compliance with all applicable customs and exchange  control laws in connection with any such transactions shall be the customer's. 

    Notice and Take-down Procedures 

    In terms of Section 75 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act ("the Act") FirstNet has designated  the Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) as an agent to receive notifications of infringements as defined  in Section 77 of the Act.

    Acceptable Usage Policy Published by FirstNet September 2023 

      

    Details for ISPA: 

    Tel: 010 500 1200 

    takedown@ispa.org.za <mailto:takedown@ispa.org.za>  

    PO Box 518 

    Noordwyk 

    1687 

    Midrand 

      

    Reservation and Non Waiver of Rights 

    FirstNet reserves the right to amend or alter this policy at any time, and without notice to you. 

    FirstNet reserves the right to take action against any individuals, companies or organizations that violate any of  the prohibited activities set out herein, or engage in any illegal or unlawful activity while accessing our services,  to the fullest extent of the law. 

    FirstNet reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to act against other types of abuse not listed in this document  and to investigate or prevent illegal activities being committed over our network. 

    FirstNet reserves the right to monitor user and network traffic for site security purposes and prevent any  unauthorised attempts to tamper with our site or cause damage to our property. 

    FirstNet reserves the right to suspend, revoke or cancel FirstNet's services to the customer/user if the safety and  integrity of FirstNet's resources are placed at risk in continuing to provide service to the subscriber/user. 

    FirstNet reserves the right to remove any information or materials in whole or in part, that, in FirstNet's sole  discretion, is deemed to be offensive, indecent, or otherwise objectionable. 

    FirstNet does not undertake to guarantee the security of any data passing through its networks. Although FirstNet will provide a "best effort" service, including regular updates on computer viruses and other threats to security of  data, it is the responsibility of the communicating parties to safeguard their data, and FirstNet cannot be held  liable for any loss or damage arising as result of the failure to do so. 

    FirstNet does not waive its right to enforcement of this AUP at any time, or prejudice its right to take subsequent  action, should FirstNet fail, neglect or elect not to enforce a breach of the AUP at any time.