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• Transmission of name/telephone number displayed on Caller ID

  Subscriber name/address/telephone number for public safety/E911 database services

  Subscriber name/address/telephone number to unaffiliated directory publishers and directory assistance providers for calling directories and directory assistance services.

  Southern Montana Telecommunications and our affiliates occasionally use personal information for internal business purposes, as well as for outside auditors, professional advisors and service partners, and regulators.

3. We may disclose the information necessary to provide your services.

The use of personal information includes, but is not limited to, the following examples:

• Provide subscriber services;
• Customize subscriber services;
• Configure-service related devices;
• Account security;
• Bill for subscriber services;
• Provide subscriber service and support;
• Manage the network supporting subscriber services;
• Make subscribers aware of new products or services that may be of interest;
• Service improvements;
• Detect the use or abuse of subscriber services; and
• Compliance with policies or terms of service

B. Information Collected During Use of Service – 

When subscribers use services, Southern Montana Telecommunications transmits information to provide subscriber services. Originating and terminating call data, such as the times, long-distance providers used, and the duration of calls, is stored for billing services.

We may contract with third-party providers to provide specific services and features for subscriber services. If third-party providers use any personal information, they will collect, disclose, and protect personal information following the practices stated herein.

1. Southern Montana Telecommunications – On a routine basis and in the normal scope of business operations, Southern Montana Telecommunications will communicate with subscribers in a variety of ways.

2. Special Offers & Updates – Subscribers may receive information from Southern Montana Telecommunications via U.S. mail, e-mail, and other means to provide service-related announcements and information on Southern Montana Telephone services that may be of interest (See Do Not Call/Do Not Mail section below).

3. Customer Service – Southern Montana Telecommunications may regularly communicate with subscribers to provide requested services and support for questions and issues relating to a subscriber’s account.

4. Do Not Call/Do Not Mail Lists –  Southern Montana Telecommunications is authorized to use subscriber contact information to place telephone calls or to send print literature for marketing or promotional purposes. Subscribers may, at any time, put their name on the Southern Montana Telephone “Do Not Call” or “Do Not Mail” lists so that they do not receive promotional calls or mail. (See subscriber’s right to limit or restrict uses of personal information in Policy Section – CPNI)

5. Southern Montana Telephone Website – The Southern Montana Telecommunications website is a regularly updated communication tool. Southern Montana Telecommunications may include within the website links to other websites or information sources. Southern Montana Telecommunications is not responsible for the privacy practices of linked sites.

C. Security –

 Southern Montana Telecommunications follows industry-standard practices to protect subscribers’ personal information from unauthorized access.

D. Correcting and Accessing Information –

 Subscribers may examine and copy personal information we collect and maintain upon reasonable notice during regular business hours. We may be unable to provide individual records without a subpoena, court order, or search warrant. Southern Montana Telephone reserves the right to charge a fee for the production of any documents.

Information is corrected on a going-forward basis when the personal information we have collected is inaccurate. Southern Montana Telecommunications can't correct information appearing in vendor directory lists until the next available publication of those directory lists. Further, Southern Montana Telephone has no control over information appearing in the directory lists or directory assistance services of directory publishers or directory assistance providers not affiliated with Southern Montana Telecommunications.

E. Retention of Information –

 Southern Montana Telecommunications maintains subscriber information in our regular business records while subscribers are active and for some time after. The period information kept is based on typical business, legal, or regulatory requirements. If there are no pending requests, orders, or court orders for access to this data, we may destroy the information after it is no longer necessary.

• Information:A telecommunications provider, has as a result of providing service to a subscriber;
• Type of service purchased by a subscriber;
• Providers selected or used by a subscriber;
• Information appearing on the subscriber’s bill;
• Who a subscriber calls, where they call, when they call, or how much they call;
• How much a subscriber uses their services; and
• How a subscriber uses their services.

CPNI is not:

• A customer’s name, address, or telephone number (when used in phone books and directory listings/publishing services);
• Aggregate information, or data that is lumped together and is not specific to a single customer – reports containing total counts, number of subscribers selecting various long-distance carriers, etc.; and
• Customer premise equipment, internet access or related data, or voice mail information.
• Subscribers receiving services with Southern Montana Telecommunications have a right, and Southern Montana Telecommunications has a duty, under federal law to protect the confidentiality of subscriber CPNI. Unless approval is obtained, Southern Montana Telephone may not use CPNI to market products and services to subscribers other than for the services a subscriber currently purchases.

B. Authentication Requirements – 

Following the FCC amendments to CPNI regulation on August 2, 2007, Southern Montana Telecommunications will utilize new authentication methods to establish subscriber identity. Customers of Southern Montana Telephone must be authenticated before releasing any CPNI in one of the following three methods:

• Subscribers may provide a pre-established password
• Southern Montana Telephone may call the subscriber back at the telephone number associated with the services purchased
• Southern Montana Telephone may mail the records to the address of record
• Southern Montana Telephone is prohibited from releasing call detail information during customer-initiated conversations without a verification method to identify the customer of record.
• Passwords and PINs will be provided to subscribers for security purposes. They must not be social security numbers, mother’s maiden name, amount of the last bill, or pet’s names. Backup authentication is accepted; however, if a subscriber fails to provide the correct password and back-up response, they must be re-authenticated before gaining online access.

C When Can Southern Montana Telephone Disclose CPNI

• When the subscriber has been appropriately identified using an accepted method to verify identity
• When the subscriber has approved the use of their CPNI for sales and marketing efforts
• When disclosure is required by court order or law
• When the subscriber provides oral, written, or electronic authorization to disclose their information to another individual. Proof of authorization must be retained on the customer’s account for at least one year.
• To protect the rights, property of Southern Montana Telephone, or to protect subscribers and other carriers from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful use of services
• When a carrier requests to know if the customer has a preferred carrier (PIC) freeze
• For all directory listing services
• To provide the services purchased by the customer
• To bill the customer for services purchased
• To assist the customer with troubles associated with their troubles

D. Use Approval for CPNI – 

The use of CPNI enhances the ability of Southern Montana Telephone to offer products and services tailored to a subscriber’s specific needs; this could include any communications products and services or special promotions.

Southern Montana Telephone will send out notices once every two years explaining subscriber rights related to CPNI; this will include directions for subscribers to restrict CPNI use. If a subscriber denies or restricts the use of CPNI, the restriction remains in effect until services are discontinued, or the subscriber affirmatively revokes the request.

Unless a subscriber contacts Southern Montana Telephone and restricts the use of CPNI, it is the policy of Southern Montana Telephone to assume that all subscribers approve the use of CPNI.

E. Protecting CPNI –

 Southern Montana Telephone uses numerous methods to protect subscriber CPNI. This process begins with software enhancements that display whether or not a subscriber has approved the use of their CPNI. Other ways Southern Montana Telephone protects CPNI are as follows:

• Access into Southern Montana Telephone buildings and facilities is limited
• Subscriber account information access is restricted to authorized personnel
• Subscriber accounts are limited to the authorized customer with passwords or other information used to verify identity
• Subscriber correspondence and information are shredded
• Training for all Southern Montana Telephone staff is held on an annual basis and during orientation for new hires
• Marketing campaigns are reviewed for CPNI
• Vendors with access to proprietary information must sign non-disclosure agreements and have the ability to keep CPNI secure