Acceptable Use Policy

12 January 2001

The following policy is for MichNet, the network run by Merit Network, Inc., that is used by all Townships gaining Internet access through the Michigan Townships Online effort.

Purpose

The purpose of MichNet is given in Merit Network, Inc.'s Bylaws which state that "in pursuance of its mission in instruction, research, and service it is the role of Merit as the operator of a high-speed digital communications network to contribute broadly to educational and economic development in Michigan".

Acceptable Use

This statement represents a guide to the acceptable use of MichNet. Any Member or Affiliate organization or individual connected to MichNet in order to use the Michigan statewide network, or any other networks which are used as a result of their MichNet connection must comply with this policy and the stated purposes and Acceptable Use policies of any other networks or hosts used.

Each Member and Affiliate organization is responsible for the activity of its users and for ensuring that its users are familiar with this policy or an equivalent policy. In addition each Member and Affiliate is encouraged to maintain and enforce its own Acceptable Use policies. The provisions of this policy govern all use of MichNet, including any unsupervised anonymous network access offered by Members or Affiliates.

The following guidelines will be applied to determine whether or not a particular use of MichNet is appropriate:

Users must respect the privacy of others; for example, users shall not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to others, or represent themselves as another user unless explicitly authorized to do so by that user.
Users must respect the legal protection provided by copyright and license to programs and data.
Users must respect the integrity of computing and network systems; for example, users shall not intentionally develop or use programs that harass other users or infiltrate a computer, computing system or network and/or damage or alter the software components of a computer, computing system or network.
Use should be consistent with guiding ethical statements and accepted community standards. Malicious use is not acceptable.
MichNet may not be used in ways that violate applicable laws or regulations.
Use of MichNet and any attached network in a manner that precludes or significantly hampers its use by others is not allowed.
Connections which create routing patterns that are inconsistent with the effective and shared use of the network may not be established.
Unsolicited advertising is not acceptable. Advertising is permitted on some Web pages, mailing lists, news groups and similar environments if advertising is explicitly allowed in that environment.
Repeated, unsolicited and/or unwanted communication of an intrusive nature is not acceptable. For example, continuing to send e-mail messages to an individual after being asked to stop is not acceptable.

The intent of this policy is to make clear certain uses which are and are not appropriate, not to exhaustively enumerate all such possible uses. Using the guidelines given above, Merit may at any time make determinations that particular uses are or are not appropriate.

Merit will not monitor or judge the content of information transmitted over MichNet, but will investigate complaints of possible inappropriate use. In the course of investigating complaints, Merit staff will safeguard the privacy of all parties and will themselves follow the guidelines given in this policy. Merit will only release sensitive, confidential or personally identifiable information to third parties when required by law or when in Merit's judgement release is required to prevent serious injury or harm that could result from violation of this policy.

Remedial Action

When Merit learns of possible inappropriate use, Merit staff will notify the Member or Affiliate responsible, which must take immediate remedial action and inform Merit of its action. In an emergency, in order to prevent further possible inappropriate activity, Merit may temporarily disconnect a Member or Affiliate from MichNet. If this is deemed necessary by Merit staff, every effort will be made to inform the Member or Affiliate prior to disconnection, and every effort will be made to re-establish the connection as soon as it is mutually deemed safe.

Any determination of inappropriate use serious enough to require disconnection shall be promptly communicated to every member of the Merit Board of Directors through an established means of publication.

Michigan Townships Online is a joint effort between Merit Network, Inc. and The Michigan Townships Association. © 2003 Acceptable Use Policy, Privacy Policy, Copyright Infringement,
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