ASCI Acceptable Use Policy
The ASCI Acceptable Use Policy has been formulated with the following goals in mind:

The Acceptable Use Policy below defines the actions which ASCI considers to be abusive, and thus, strictly prohibited. The examples named in this list are not exclusive, and are provided solely for guidance to ASCI customers. If you are unsure whether any contemplated use or action is permitted, please contact ASCI at admin@asci.net, and we will assist you.

General Conduct
ASCI offers unlimited "attended" access to the Internet, for its customers. The running of client modules (i.e. e-mail programs) that create usage activity from dial-up accounts, when no user is present, is prohibited. Usage that keeps connections and resources active without a user being present and does not release ASCI resources for use by other customers is strictly prohibited. When ASCI detects "repeating" modules, the connection will be immediately terminated. Three repeated offenses of this nature will cause notification to be given to the customer. Unresolved or repeated offenses is cause for ASCI to terminate an account. Should the account be terminated due to cause, the client will be responsible for all applicable monthly account payments and any associated costs of telecom terminations.

If you have requirements for dedicated or extended connection to the Internet, please contact admin@asci.net for information on how this may be accomplished.

Customers are prohibited from transmitting on or through any of the ASCI services any material that is in ASCI's sole discretion, unlawful, pornographic, threatening, abusive, libelous, hateful, or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any International laws, United States or state and local laws, regulations, or ordinances.

ASCI services may only be used for lawful purposes. Transmission, distribution, or storage of any information, data or material in violation of International laws, United States or state and local laws, regulations, or ordinances is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, material protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret, or any other business sensitive/business proprietary data. ASCI reserves the right to remove such material from its servers.

The customer is responsible for timely payment of accounts with ASCI. Furnishing false data upon sign-up, contract initiation, or online application, including fraudulent use of credit card numbers, is grounds for immediate termination, and may subject the offender to civil or criminal liability.

The resale of ASCI products and services to third parties is not permitted, unless expressly and specifically authorized By American Systems consulting, Inc.

System and Network Security
Customers may not attempt to circumvent user authentication or security of any host, network, or account ("hacking/cracking"). This includes, but is not limited to, accessing data not intended for the customer, logging into a server or account the customer is not expressly authorized to access, or probing the security of other networks (such as running a SATAN scan or similar tool).

Customers may not attempt to interfere with service to any user, host, or network ("denial of service attacks"). This includes, but is not limited to, "flooding" of networks, deliberate attempts to overload a service, and attempts to "crash" a host. customers may not use any kind of program/script/command, or send messages of any kind, designed to interfere with a user's terminal session, via any means, locally or by the Internet.

Users who violate systems or network security may incur criminal or civil liability. ASCI will cooperate fully with investigations of violations of systems or network security at other sites, including cooperating with law enforcement authorities in the investigation of suspected criminal violations.

Dialup Accounts
ASCI dialup accounts are intended for use by an individual entity. Multiple concurrent logins are prohibited, and will be logged off immediately upon detection. Users of user mode IP programs (such as TIA) may use one additional login via telnet in addition to the initial login. Shell account users may not run programs that provide network services from their accounts, such as IRC or MUD servers.

ASCI shell accounts are intended for interactive use. Attempts to circumvent the idle daemon or time charges accounting, or attempts to run programs while not logged in, by any method, are prohibited. ASCI shell accounts operate on shared resources. customers are prohibited from excessive consumption of resources, including CPU time, memory, disk space, and session time. The use of resource-intensive programs which negatively impact other system users, or the performance of ASCI systems or networks is prohibited. ASCI staff may take action to limit or terminate such programs. If you have requirements to use high resource utilization programs, please contact support@asci.net for assistance on how ASCI can accommodate your requirement without degradation of service.

Password Security
Password security is the responsibility of the individual user. Effective passwords should be a minimum of six characters long, contain at least one number or symbol, and are not based on any dictionary word or common name. customers may not share passwords or accounts with others. ASCI does not know or have a list of your passwords. If you have forgotten your password or need it changed, ASCI can assign a new password for you or reset your current password.

E-mail
All forms of harassment, whether through language, frequency, or message size, is prohibited. Customers may not send e-mail to any person who does not wish to receive it. If a recipient asks to stop receiving e-mail, the customer must not send that person any further e-mail. Customers are explicitly prohibited from sending unsolicited bulk mail messages ("junk mail" or "spam"). This includes, but is not limited to, bulk-mailing of commercial advertising, informational announcements, and political tracts. Such material may only be sent to those who have explicitly requested it. Malicious e-mail, including but not limited to "mail bombing" (flooding a user or site with very large or numerous pieces of e-mail), is prohibited.

Forging of header information in any deceitful manner is prohibited.

ASCI accounts or services may not be used to collect replies to messages sent from another ISP, where those messages violate this Acceptable Use Policy.

USENET
ASCI provides an uncensored news feed. As such, ASCI does not control the content of the newsgroups available to its customers. ASCI is not responsible for the content of any USENET posting, whether or not the posting was made by a ASCI customer.

Postings to USENET newsgroups must comply with the written charters or FAQs for those newsgroups. Advertisements should only be posted in those newsgroups whose charters/FAQs explicitly permit them. The person posting any information electronically is responsible for determining the etiquette of each news group.

Customers are prohibited from posting the same or similar message to large numbers of newsgroups (excessive cross-posting or multiple-posting, also known as "USENET spam").

Customers are prohibited from posting binary files to newsgroups not specifically named for that purpose. Customers are prohibited from canceling or superseding posts other than their own, with the exception of official news group moderators performing their duties. Customers are prohibited from forging header information. This includes attempting to circumvent the approval process for posting to a moderated news group. A customer may not solicit mail for any other address other than that of the customer's ASCI account or service with the intent to harass or collect replies after ASCI service has been terminated.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
ASCI is not liable for the content of any communications made on an IRC. ASCI reserves the right to ban from IRC usage any user whose conduct is, in ASCI's sole judgment, inappropriate or disruptive. IRC robots ("bots" or "clones") may not be run from ASCI shell accounts, or on the ASCI server.

Customers are prohibited from using IRC scripts or programs that interfere with or deny service to other users on any server or host. Customers are also prohibited from engaging in activities which harass other users. This includes, but is not limited to, "flooding" (rapidly entering text with the intent to fill the screens of others), "flashing" (disrupting terminal emulation), "takeovers" (forcibly seizing operator privileges), attempting to send private messages to those who do not wish to see them (via "ignore"), attempting to return to a channel after being banned from it, and other disruptive behaviors.

Questions about this policy should be sent via e-mail to admin@asci.net.

Reports of activity in violation of this policy may be sent in e-mail to abuse@asci.net.