NETWORK MANAGEMENT GUIDE FOR GOOGLE FIBER INTERNET SERVICES Google Fiber is committed to providing an excellent user experience that supports any lawful product, service, or application that its subscribers choose to access through their Google Fiber Internet service. To do so, Google Fiber engages in reasonable network management practices. Descriptions of these practices are provided below for informational purposes only and may be subject to change at any time. Use of Google Fiber’s Internet services is governed by various service terms and conditions that are available here. The information provided below does not change the rights or obligations under those terms and conditions of either Google Fiber or the subscribers to Google Fiber’s services. The Google Fiber Privacy Policy explains the collection, use, and sharing of information from Fiber users. CONGESTION MANAGEMENT In the unlikely event that users' aggregate demand exceeds the available capacity of the network and creates acute congestion, Google Fiber will employ various techniques to ensure that subscribers continue to have a positive experience. In times of acute congestion, Google Fiber Internet service bandwidth will be fairly allocated among subscribers without regard to the subscribers’ online activities or the protocols or applications that the subscribers are using. While acute congestion is occurring, subscribers will still be able to use the lawful content, services, and applications of their choice, but this fair sharing of bandwidth may result in slower download and upload speeds and slower response times from websites and Internet-based applications and services. Google Fiber will not engage in deep packet inspection (where the content of the data packet is inspected beyond its IP, TCP, and UDP headers) or drop specific types of end-user Internet traffic except as described herein to preserve the integrity of the network and protect against negative effects of Internet threats. Google Fiber does not prevent or impede the use of any other product or service that its subscribers choose to access over their Google Fiber Internet service as long as the use of that product or service does not violate the service terms and conditions. Google Fiber also does not favor or inhibit any applications or classes of applications except as described herein. SERVICE OFFERING CHARACTERISTICS Google Fiber offers a selection of Internet access service offerings to meet subscribers’ budgetary and usage needs. Details about Google’s service offerings are available here. The advertised speed of the subscriber’s chosen Google Fiber Internet offering is the maximum speed expected to be achievable for that service offering. Several factors may affect the actual speed of Google Fiber’s service offerings at any particular point in time. These factors include, but are not limited to: the capability of the subscriber's device used to access Google Fiber; the capability of the home network between the subscriber's device and Google Fiber; the capability of websites or other Internet services accessed by the subscriber; the connectivity and capacity of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs); the subscriber’s use of Google Fiber TV service; and network congestion/other Internet traffic. Detailed summaries of Google Fiber’s Internet service performance, including information about speed and latency and optimizing your wireless network, can be found in the Help Center. Google Fiber also provides a speed test page for subscribers to test their connections themselves. Google Fiber’s Internet services are priced on a flat-fee basis (plus taxes and government fees). Google Fiber does not charge subscribers a usage-based fee for Internet access service and does not employ volume-based data caps. More information about the pricing of Google Fiber’s service offerings and other fees is available in the Subscriber Agreement. Bandwidth is provided on a per-subscriber basis. The subscriber's bandwidth is shared by all connected devices within the subscriber's home. NETWORK SECURITY Google Fiber engages in network management practices intended to address threats to its network and subscribers. Google Fiber reserves the right at any time to take action necessary to protect the integrity of its network and other parts of the Internet. This may include terminating or suspending service to subscribers who engage in activity that violates the Google Fiber Terms of Service, including but not limited to activity that threatens to undermine the integrity of Google Fiber’s network or services. Google Fiber uses industry standard tools and generally accepted best practices and policies to prevent subscribers and other Internet users from experiencing the negative effects of Internet threats such as viruses, spam, denial of service attacks, and other unwanted or harmful online content and activities. Please notify Google Fiber of any perceived network security or other Internet threats. ATTACHMENT OF DEVICES Google Fiber’s subscribers may attach any device of their choice to the Google Fiber Internet service that is compatible with the Google Fiber network (i.e., supports IPv4 and/or IPv6 via Ethernet or Wi-Fi technologies), does not violate the Google Fiber Terms of Service, and does not cause harm to the network, other users, or the provision of Internet access service. The performance a user experiences may vary depending on the capability and configuration of devices being used on the service. SPECIAL INFORMATION REGARDING IN-HOME WI-FI ROUTERS Google Fiber provides each of its subscribers a Network Box, which includes built-in Wi-Fi and a gigabit firewall. Additionally, Google Fiber provides to all Gigabit + TV subscribers a TV Box, which includes a Wi-Fi access point. Google Fiber highly recommends the use of encryption with Wi-Fi. Encryption will help prevent unauthorized users from accessing a subscriber's home network. Google Fiber subscribers are responsible for activity that occurs over their connections, including unlawful use by third parties. While Wi-Fi encryption does not encrypt traffic that a subscriber sends over the Internet, it does provide encryption for the Wi-Fi portion of the communications path between the subscriber’s wireless device and the subscriber’s Wi-Fi-enabled Network Box and/or TV Box. In the Help Center, Google Fiber provides step-by-step instructions for activating the encryption setting. For information on accessing and configuring features in Google Fiber Wi-Fi enabled device(s), please visit the Help Center. INFORMATION ABOUT GOOGLE FIBER TV SERVICES Google Fiber’s Internet and TV service offerings share capacity on the fiber-optic connections to subscribers’ homes. To provide customers with a consistently high-quality video service, the capacity available for the Google Fiber Internet service may be reduced if subscribers are utilizing Google Fiber TV services and, in particular, if subscribers are watching or recording multiple Google Fiber TV streams simultaneously. CONTACT INFORMATION Google Fiber’s contact page provides ways for subscribers to reach us by phone, email or chat.
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