Cherokee Communications

Cherokee Internet Broadband Disclosures

Cherokee strives to provide consumers with accessible, easy-to-understand information about the services we provide, so they can make informed decisions about which services best meet their needs. Consistent with that goal, we have established this page as a single place where consumers and others can access and review the relevant policies, agreements, and other information about our Cherokee Internet broadband Internet access services.

Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") requires that Cherokee and other providers of broadband Internet access services disclose certain information regarding those Internet services. The information required for disclosure under the FCC's rules is found below and in the various policies and documents listed and linked on this page. To assist you in finding the information you're looking for, we highlight below information that the FCC specifically calls for in the Open Internet Disclosures.

Network Practices

Cherokee does not discriminate against lawful Internet content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices. The bullets below provide an overview of Cherokee's network practices with respect to its Cherokee Internet broadband Internet access services. Additional information, including more-detailed technical information, is available by calling the Cherokee business office.

Blocking

Cherokee does not block or otherwise prevent end user access to lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices. Cherokee does engage in reasonable network management practices described below and in our Acceptable Use Policy.

Throttling

Cherokee does not degrade or impair access to lawful Internet traffic on the basis of content, application, service, user, or use of a non-harmful device. Cherokee does engage in reasonable network management practices described below and in our Acceptable Use Policy.

Affiliated Prioritization

Cherokee does not directly or indirectly favor some traffic over other traffic, including through use of techniques such as traffic shaping, prioritization, or resource reservation, to benefit an affiliate.

Paid Prioritization

Cherokee does not directly or indirectly favor some traffic over other traffic, including through use of techniques such as traffic shaping, prioritization, or resource reservation, in exchange for consideration, monetary or otherwise.

Network Management

Cherokee manages its network with one goal: to deliver the best possible broadband Internet access service to all of its customers. To further this effort, Cherokee uses reasonable network management practices that are consistent with industry standards. Cherokee uses various tools and techniques to manage its network, deliver its service, and ensure compliance with the Acceptable Use Policy and the Customer Agreement for Residential Services. These tools and techniques are dynamic and can and do change frequently. Network management activities may include identifying spam and preventing its delivery to customer email accounts, and detecting malicious Internet traffic and preventing the distribution of, or inadvertent access to, malware, phishing, viruses, or other harmful code or content.

As the Internet and its related technologies continue to evolve, Cherokee’s network management tools will also keep pace so we can deliver an excellent, reliable, and safe experience to all of our customers. We will provide updates here as well as other locations if we make significant changes to our network management techniques.

Cherokee currently does not maintain a separate system to assist with managing times of congestion. As our network technologies and usage of the network continue to evolve, we reserve the right to implement a new congestion management system if necessary in the performance of reasonable network management and in order to maintain a good broadband Internet access service experience for our customers, and will provide updates here as well as other locations if a new system is implemented.

Application-Specific Behavior

Cherokee provides its broadband Internet access service customers with full access to all the lawful content, services, and applications that the Internet has to offer. Cherokee does not block or rate-control specific protocols or protocol ports (except to prevent spam, malicious attacks, and identity theft), does not modify protocol fields in ways not prescribed by protocol standards, and does not otherwise inhibit or favor certain applications or classes of applications.

Device Attachment Rules

Many devices are approved to access our broadband Internet access service. In order for a modem device to be approved for use on the network, it must pass applicable certification, UL certification, FCC certification, and Cherokee device testing covering areas like performance, security certification, and integration with Cherokee’s network and systems.

Security

Cherokee employs a number of practices to help prevent unwanted communications, such as spam, and protect the security of Cherokee's customers and network. We limit the number of login, SMTP, DNS, and DHCP transactions per second (at levels far above “normal” rates) that customers can send to our servers in order to protect them from Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. (We do not disclose exact rate limits in order to maintain the effectiveness of these measures.)

In order to further protect our customers, Cherokee blocks a limited number of ports that are commonly used to send spam, launch malicious attacks, or steal a customer’s information. Cherokee conducts several security initiatives, and offers security tools for our customers at our online security page.

Cherokee has an Alerts page that provides news and information on topics related to network security.

Performance Characteristics

Service Description

Cherokee provides a detailed summary of its Internet service performance containing information about speed and latency, as well as other related topics. Cherokee prides itself on providing state-of-the-art broadband services at the highest possible speeds. Cherokee consistently delivers at or above the "provisioned" speed for the particular service tier. Cherokee also provides a speed test page, so you can test your connection for yourself.

Other Services on Our Network

Cherokee currently provides video services (using Internet Protocol (“IP”)-based technology), and voice services and certain enterprise business services (using IP-based technologies), to its customers over the same physical network used to deliver Cherokee broadband Internet access service to residential and small and medium business customers. Our IP video and voice services, and our enterprise business services, are not provided over the Internet but are provisioned with separate service capacity and delivered over separate service flows using Differentiated Service Code Point (“DSCP”) technology, and the voice and enterprise (but not the video) services are marked for prioritization (to ensure that calls, e.g., 911 calls, go through even in times of congestion). These services are designed to protect the integrity and reliability of the Cherokee Internet service, which is delivered on a best-efforts basis.

Commercial Terms

Pricing and Other Fees

Cherokee’s Cherokee Internet broadband Internet access services may be subject to promotional rates. Additional fees, such as for equipment rental, installation, and early termination, may apply. For information about pricing and fees for Cherokee's various Cherokee Internet tiers of service and all its Cherokee services, please visit the Cherokee web page.

Data Usage Plans

Cherokee may offer service plans that deploy flexible data usage management approaches that provide its customers with choice and control. Under these plans, usage that exceeds a monthly usage threshold is subject to an additional charge. Cherokee's web page provides further information about these data usage plans. Other than these optional service tiers, Cherokee does not currently apply any “data caps,” usage thresholds, or any other form of usage-based billing, but reserves the right to do so.

Privacy Policies

Cherokee's privacy policies with respect to Cherokee Internet service are explained in the Cherokee Customer Privacy Notice.

Redress Options

If you have any questions about these disclosures, cannot find what you are looking for, or have any other concerns about Cherokee Internet service, please contact Cherokee at help@cherokeecomm.com. Cherokee will review and promptly respond to all submissions.