Acceptable Use Policy

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") sets out the rules for acceptable use of the networks, systems, platforms, and services ("Services") provided by CenturyLine Telecomms ("we", "us", or "our") to customers, resellers, and end users ("you").

This AUP is incorporated by reference into the applicable Service Agreement between CenturyLine Telecomms and the Customer. By using our Services, you agree to comply with this AUP. Violation of this AUP may result in suspension or termination of Services without notice, and may give rise to civil or criminal liability.

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1. Scope

This AUP applies to all use of CenturyLine Telecomms Services, including but not limited to:

• Dark fiber, wavelength, and managed spectrum services
• Dedicated Internet Access and IP Transit
• Ethernet and MPLS connectivity services
• Cloud Connect and colocation services
• SD-WAN, SASE, and security services
• Voice, unified communications, and SIP trunking services
• The CenturyLine Telecomms website and customer portal

This AUP applies to the Customer and to any end users, employees, contractors, agents, or third parties to whom the Customer grants access to the Services. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that all such parties comply with this AUP.

2. Permitted Use

Our Services are provided for lawful business purposes. You are permitted to use the Services to:

• Transmit, receive, and process data in connection with legitimate business operations
• Connect offices, data centres, cloud platforms, and other infrastructure for authorised business purposes
• Deliver lawful applications, content, and services to your customers and end users
• Access and administer your own systems and networks through our infrastructure
• Test and monitor your own authorised systems for performance and security purposes

3. Prohibited Activities

You must not use the Services, directly or indirectly, to engage in any of the following:

3.1 Illegal Activities

• Any activity that violates applicable local, national, or international law or regulation
• Transmission, storage, or distribution of content that is illegal in the jurisdiction where it originates or is received, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), terrorist content, or content inciting violence
• Unauthorised access to, or interference with, computer systems, networks, or data (hacking, cracking)
• Fraud, identity theft, phishing, or other deceptive practices
• Money laundering, financing of terrorism, or evasion of financial sanctions
• Circumvention of geographic restrictions imposed by law or court order

3.2 Network Abuse and Security Threats

• Launching, facilitating, or participating in denial-of-service (DoS) or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against any target
• Transmitting, distributing, or storing malicious code, including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, or adware
• Port scanning, network probing, or vulnerability scanning of systems you do not own or are not authorised to test
• IP address spoofing or forging packet headers to disguise the origin of traffic
• Intercepting, monitoring, or capturing network traffic without authorisation (packet sniffing)
• Actions that cause disruption, degradation, or excessive burden on CenturyLine Telecomms infrastructure or that of third parties
• Operating open relays, open proxies, or Tor exit nodes that facilitate abuse
• Exploitation of vulnerabilities in third-party systems without explicit authorisation

3.3 Spam and Unsolicited Communications

• Sending unsolicited bulk email (spam) or other unsolicited bulk communications
• Operating systems used to send spam or to support spamming operations
• Harvesting or collecting email addresses or other contact data without consent for unsolicited communications
• Engaging in SMS flooding, robocalling, or other forms of unsolicited bulk messaging

3.4 Intellectual Property Infringement

• Transmitting, distributing, or storing material in violation of applicable copyright, trademark, patent, or trade secret law
• Facilitating the unauthorised distribution of copyrighted content, including through peer-to-peer file sharing networks
• Hosting or linking to piracy sites, counterfeit goods marketplaces, or similar infringing platforms

3.5 Harmful, Abusive, or Offensive Content

• Publishing, transmitting, or distributing material that is defamatory, harassing, threatening, or abusive toward individuals or groups
• Content that incites hatred or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Non-consensual intimate imagery or content designed to harass or harm a specific individual

3.6 Misuse of Services

• Reselling or sublicensing Services to third parties without CenturyLine Telecomms' prior written consent
• Using Services for purposes materially different from those agreed in the applicable Service Agreement without prior written approval
• Deliberately circumventing bandwidth limits, traffic policies, or fair use provisions
• Providing false or misleading information to CenturyLine Telecomms in connection with the Services
• Using Services in a manner that could bring CenturyLine Telecomms into disrepute

4. Customer Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Ensuring that all users of your account comply with this AUP
• Maintaining appropriate security controls on your own systems and infrastructure to prevent unauthorised use of our Services
• Promptly reporting to CenturyLine Telecomms any known or suspected violations of this AUP at abuse@centurytelecomms.com
• Co-operating fully with any investigation by CenturyLine Telecomms or law enforcement into suspected AUP violations
• Taking immediate corrective action if notified by CenturyLine Telecomms of a suspected violation

5. Security Research and Penetration Testing

Legitimate security research and penetration testing activities conducted against your own infrastructure are generally permitted, subject to the following conditions:

• You must notify CenturyLine Telecomms in writing at least 48 hours in advance of any testing that may generate unusual traffic patterns or alerts
• Testing must be confined strictly to systems and IP ranges that you own or are explicitly authorised to test
• Testing must not generate traffic volumes or patterns that could impact the performance of shared infrastructure or other customers
• You must provide CenturyLine Telecomms with details of the testing scope upon request

Any testing against CenturyLine Telecomms' own infrastructure requires separate prior written authorisation. Unauthorised testing of CenturyLine Telecomms systems is a serious violation of this AUP and applicable law.

6. Monitoring and Enforcement

CenturyLine Telecomms reserves the right to monitor network traffic at the metadata and aggregate level to detect abuse, protect network integrity, and comply with legal obligations. We do not routinely inspect the content of customer traffic beyond what is necessary for these purposes.

In the event of a suspected AUP violation, CenturyLine Telecomms may take any or all of the following actions, with or without notice depending on the severity of the violation:

• Issue a formal warning to the Customer
• Temporarily suspend or restrict access to the Services
• Permanently terminate the Services and associated Service Agreements
• Remove or block specific traffic, content, or IP addresses
• Disclose information to law enforcement, regulatory authorities, or third parties harmed by the violation
• Pursue civil or criminal remedies as appropriate

CenturyLine Telecomms shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from enforcement actions taken in good faith under this AUP.

7. Reporting Abuse

If you become aware of any misuse of CenturyLine Telecomms Services, or if you believe you have been targeted by abuse originating from our network, please contact our Network Operations Centre (NOC) or abuse team immediately:

Abuse Reporting:
Email: abuse@centurytelecomms.com
Technical Support (24/7 NOC): +1 (302) 4403 400
General: web@centurytelecomms.com

We take all abuse reports seriously and aim to acknowledge reports within 4 hours and to investigate and respond substantively within 24 hours.

8. Changes to This Policy

CenturyLine Telecomms reserves the right to update this AUP at any time. Material changes will be communicated to Customers via email or through the customer portal. Continued use of the Services following the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised AUP.

9. Governing Law

This AUP is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under this AUP shall be subject to the jurisdiction provisions set out in the applicable Service Agreement or, in the absence of such provisions, the courts of England and Wales.