Acceptable Use Policy

1. Introduction

This Acceptable Use Policy, referred to as this “AUP,” governs the use of services provided by Headfirst Communications LLC, referred to as “HFC,” “we,” “our,” or “us.”

This AUP applies to internet access, telecommunications, transport, colocation, managed infrastructure, hosting, consulting, and related services provided by HFC, collectively referred to as the “Services.”

By using HFC Services, customers agree to comply with this AUP. This AUP is incorporated into HFC’s customer agreements, service orders, and related service terms where applicable.

2. Lawful Use

Customers may only use HFC Services for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

Customers may not use HFC Services to transmit, store, publish, distribute, or facilitate unlawful content, activity, or communications.

3. Customer Responsibility

Customers are responsible for all activity occurring through their service connection, assigned IP addresses, customer-owned equipment, HFC-provided equipment under their control, user accounts, and connected devices.

Customers are responsible for securing their networks, systems, devices, passwords, wireless access points, servers, applications, and customer-operated infrastructure.

4. Prohibited Uses

Customers may not use HFC Services for activities including, but not limited to:

• Unauthorized access to systems, accounts, devices, or networks
• Hacking, cracking, credential theft, or attempted security bypass
• Phishing, impersonation, fraud, or identity theft
• Distribution of malware, ransomware, viruses, worms, botnets, or malicious code
• Denial-of-service attacks or participation in distributed denial-of-service activity
• IP spoofing, packet forgery, or falsification of network identity information
• Operation of command-and-control infrastructure
• Threats of violence or unlawful harassment
• Distribution or possession of child sexual abuse material
• Any activity that violates applicable law or legal process

5. Network Integrity

Customers may not use HFC Services in a way that interferes with the operation, security, reliability, or performance of HFC’s network or the networks of others.

Prohibited network activity includes:

• Intentional network flooding
• Unauthorized port scanning or vulnerability scanning
• Unauthorized penetration testing
• Route hijacking or unauthorized BGP announcements
• Misconfigured systems that create harmful traffic
• Use of open proxies, open relays, or open resolvers that create abuse
• Attempts to bypass network management, security, or access controls

6. Email and Messaging Abuse

Customers may not use HFC Services to send, relay, facilitate, or support unsolicited bulk email, spam, phishing messages, fraudulent communications, or abusive messaging.

Customers operating email servers are responsible for securing them and maintaining appropriate abuse controls, including proper authentication, relay restrictions, and responsible list management.

7. Intellectual Property

Customers may not use HFC Services to infringe the intellectual property rights of others, including copyright, trademark, trade secret, or other proprietary rights.

HFC may respond to lawful notices, court orders, subpoenas, and other valid legal requests as required by applicable law.

8. Customer-Hosted Services

Unless restricted by a specific service plan, service order, or written agreement, customers may operate lawful internet-facing services over HFC Services.

Examples may include:

• Web servers
• Email servers
• VPN services
• Game servers
• Remote access systems
• Business applications

Customers remain fully responsible for the security, legality, and network impact of any customer-hosted services.

9. Resource Use and Network Management

HFC does not impose routine usage caps on internet access services unless specifically stated in a service order, product description, or customer agreement.

However, customers may not intentionally or negligently use HFC Services in a manner that:

• Harms network operations
• Creates excessive congestion
• Degrades service for other customers
• Consumes resources in a way inconsistent with the purchased service
• Circumvents reasonable network management practices

HFC may use reasonable network management practices to preserve service availability, security, and performance.

10. Security Events and Abuse Complaints

HFC may investigate security events, abuse complaints, fraud reports, malware activity, denial-of-service activity, spam complaints, copyright notices, and other reports involving customer service connections.

HFC may notify customers of suspected abuse and request corrective action. In urgent cases, HFC may act before notice is provided.

11. Enforcement

If HFC determines that a customer has violated this AUP, HFC may take one or more actions, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

Enforcement actions may include:

• Issuing a warning
• Requesting corrective action
• Filtering, blocking, or rate-limiting abusive traffic
• Temporarily suspending service
• Terminating service
• Removing or disabling access to offending material where applicable
• Reporting unlawful activity to appropriate authorities
• Cooperating with upstream providers, law enforcement, or regulatory authorities as required or permitted by law

12. Customer Cooperation

Customers agree to reasonably cooperate with HFC in investigating and resolving abuse, security, fraud, operational, and legal issues involving their service.

This may include correcting misconfigured systems, removing malicious software, securing devices, updating credentials, stopping abusive traffic, or providing relevant technical contact information.

13. Changes to This Policy

HFC may update this AUP from time to time.

When material changes occur, HFC will update the Effective Date and post the revised policy on its website. Continued use of HFC Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised AUP.

This policy is intended as a practical acceptable use policy for Headfirst Communications LLC. It should be reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication or use as a binding customer-facing policy.