Reasonable Use Policy (“RUP”)
Limitation of Satellite Services
VFR Internet has deployed certain technologies into its Network Operating
Center that track the utilization of the satellite bandwidth of each end-user
subscriber. These technologies are designed to ensure equal Internet
access for all end-user subscribers.
The VFR Internet unlimited usage plan is designed and priced for individual
residential access of a non-commercial nature. It is designed to provide
the “reasonable” user with download at speeds up to 400 K bps. Therefore,
VFR Internet’s RUP establishes an equitable balance in Internet access for
end-users regardless of the end-user’s frequency of use or volume of traffic.
VFR Internet’s technologies have the ability to identify, in real-time, excessive
consumption of bandwidth on a per end-user basis and correct it by temporarily
reducing the throughput of the specific end-user that is excessively consuming
bandwidth on the network. Once an end-user is identified as excessively
using bandwidth, its individual throughput speed will begin to be reduced
downward to a preset minimum. Once the end-user reduces its throughput
and the VFR Internet technologies observe the end-user’s usage of the satellite
bandwidth returning to RUP levels, the throughput limitations are lifted
on the 31st day after the end-user’s bandwidth consumption returns to RUP
levels.
VFR Internet’s RUP has been designed to give end-users an above average surfing
experience that far exceeds the typical end-user’s needs. Additionally, the
RUP ensures that the end-users all experience fair and equal access to the
benefits of a satellite delivered broadband Internet access service.
The RUP prevents the network from being congested by a handful of end-user’s
activities. End-users that maintain an average daily usage of up to 16 MB
per day should not notice any throughput limitation. However, end-users that
continually download large files, such as complete operating systems (e.g.
Linux), should experience throughput limitations on a pro-rata basis over
time until their average utilization returns to the levels expected from
an individual residential user (e.g. average up to 16 MB per day over a 30
day period.) The VFR Internet RUP will still allow for large consumers
of bandwidth to complete the download of their data. However, this type of
end-user will experience throughput speed reductions until such time that
their usage conforms to average usage patterns.
VFR Internet reserves the rights to adjust download limitations as required
to assure all users of equal access to the provided high-speed download service.
The current RUP is based on cumulative usage over the previous 30-day period.
Users averaging up to 16 MB per day will receive service at up to 400 Kbps;
those averaging between 16 and 33 MB per day will be limited to 300 Kbps
speeds. End-users that average between 33 and 50 MB per day will be
limited to 200 Kbps and those that average between 50 and 83 MB will be limited
to 100 Kbps. End-users that exceed an average of 83 MB per day will
be restricted to 64 Kbps until the 31st day after their average usage drops
to a lower level. Please note that our studies show that the average
end-user downloads an average of 11 MB per day.
All usage tracking will be done on a rolling 30-day average. The dynamic
adjustment chart is as follows:
Downloaded MB in last 30 day period
Maximum Service Bandwidth
0 MB to 500 MB
400 kbps
500 + MB to 1000 MB
300 kbps
1000 + MB to 1500 MB
200 kbps
1500 + MB to 2500 MB
100 kbps
2500 + MB
64 kbps
The RUP table will be adjusted each month as per the average consumption
for ALL users for the previous month, but never more than 10% plus or minus
at each adjustment point.