Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) – Voice & Communications Services
This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs the use of all Voice over IP ("VoIP"), Session Initiation Protocol ("SIP") trunking, hosted PBX (including 3CX), messaging (SMS/MMS), and related telecommunications services (collectively, the "Services") provided by eSmith IT Consulting, Inc. ("eSmith IT").
By subscribing to or using the Services, Customer and its end users agree to adhere to the terms of this AUP.
1. Permitted & Legitimate Business Use
The Services are intended for normal, interactive business communications, including standard two-way voice conversations, legitimate business operations, appointment scheduling, patient/customer care, after-hours on-call routing, and routine organizational workflows.
2. Prohibited Activities
Customer shall not use, nor permit any third party to use, the Services for any illegal, fraudulent, improper, or abusive purpose. Prohibited activities include, without limitation:
3. Customer Security Responsibilities
Customer is solely responsible for maintaining the physical and logical security of its local network, IP-PBX systems, SIP credentials, desk phones, and extension passwords. Customer must promptly implement security patches, restrict unauthorized international dialing rules, and take immediate steps to prevent unauthorized access or toll compromise.
4. Fair Use Benchmarks
For service plans designated as "Unlimited" or "Unmetered," usage must remain consistent with typical operational baselines defined in Customer’s Service Agreement or Service Order Form. Significant, sustained departures from agreed baseline volumes may require a transition to an appropriately scaled enterprise or high-volume service plan.
5. Enforcement, Investigation, and Notice
Immediate Mitigation: eSmith IT reserves the right to immediately block, throttle, or suspend specific traffic, numbers, or services without prior notice if required to protect network integrity, stop active toll fraud, comply with law enforcement / FCC / Industry Traceback Group directives, or halt illegal autodialing.
Notice & Opportunity to Cure: For non-emergency operational deviations or volume anomalies, eSmith IT will provide written notice via email detailing the issue and provide a reasonable opportunity (as defined in Customer's underlying Service Agreement) to adjust configurations before assessing surcharges or terminating service.
6. Regulatory & Legal Cooperation
eSmith IT cooperates fully with regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and the Industry Traceback Group in investigating suspected illegal telecommunications traffic.
7. Policy Modifications
eSmith IT may update this AUP periodically to reflect evolving legal, regulatory, and carrier security standards. Updates will be posted on the eSmith IT website. Any modification that materially alters a contracted Customer's permitted use, pricing, or service obligations shall remain subject to the advance written notice and termination protections set forth in Customer’s underlying Service Agreement.