Jim Wells County Community Network Public Access Computers & Internet User Policies & Procedures
April 2003

Introduction
Welcome to the Jim Wells County Community Network's (Network) public access computer and Internet services. Through a grant from the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund and local matching funds, the Network has purchased and installed 65 Dell desktop computers at several host sites in Jim Wells County, including locations in Alice, Premont, Orange Grove, Ben Bolt, Sandia, and La Gloria. The Network's primary purpose is to provide all county residents access to computers and resources available through the Internet. (For more information about the Network, please see the About the Community Network page.)

These services are provided to county residents at no charge. Please read these policies and procedures carefully. To register to use these services, please complete the registration form.

For the location of Network public access host sites and the hours of availability, please see the list of host sites.

Policies & Procedures

(For a summary of the User Policies & Procedures, please click here.)

1. To use a Network computer and Internet service, you must register as an Authorized User by completing the registration form. After your initial registration, you may use the computer and Internet service at any of the Network public access sites (see list).
2. No more than two (2) persons will be allowed to work together at one computer. Children of ages 14 years and under may only use a computer with a parent or guardian present. Network users of ages 15 – 17 years may use the computers only if their parent, guardian, or legal caregiver has signed the registration form to provide written permission that their child may use a computer and the Internet.
3. The staffs of the organizations that host the Network public access computers cannot provide immediate, in-depth training on the use of the computer or the Internet. Therefore, the Network reserves the right to require inexperienced computer or Internet users to attend an orientation session as a condition for use of the Network's computers and Internet service. Orientation sessions will be provided regularly by the Network for the general public.
4. The Network computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registered users must sign-up at one of the Network host sites before using a computer. You may sign-up for one (1) uninterrupted, one (1) hour session per day. If someone else is waiting, you are expected to end your computer and Internet session immediately after one (1) hour. If no one else is waiting, you may continue to use the computer. If the computers are not in use, you may sign-up for additional sessions on the same day. Additional sessions may be interrupted at any time based on public demand for access to the Network computers.
5. The Network computers are intended for public use and searching of the Internet, and other types of searches, such as CD-ROM. Network computer users may not install personal software on any of the Network computers, and may not download or run any programs from the Internet, CD-ROM's, or floppy disks. Do not alter or attach any personal equipment to the Network computers. Do not change the configuration of any of the software on the computers, or use the hardware in any manner that may cause damage. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE RULES, AND USER PRIVILEGES MAY BE SUSPENDED IF THESE RULES ARE VIOLATED.
6. Do not download any files or documents onto the hard drives of the Network computers. All files or documents must be downloaded onto the user's floppy disk or CD-ROM.
7. The Network computers and host sites' Internet connection may be used to access the user's personal email services via the Internet, such as Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc.
8. Printing costs will be determined by each organization that hosts the public access computers, and may vary from site to site. Users need to be aware that when you print from the Internet, the size of the print job may be larger than you anticipated, and may contain material that you did not intend to print. Users may be charged per printed page regardless of its usefulness to you.
9. Users may not always get access to the Internet web sites that they want to visit. There are many reasons for this, including:

   • due to a high number of visitors to the web site, the host computer has closed or limited access to the site;
   • access to the web site may be restricted;
   • the address to the web site has changed or is inactive; or
   • the Network host site's Internet connection may be temporarily inactive due to technical difficulties.
10. Network computer users are expected to be familiar with, and abide by, these Network policies and procedures for computer and Internet use. Misuse of the computers or the Internet may result in the suspension of your Network user privileges.

1. The Internet and its available resources contain a wide variety of materials and opinions from varied points of view. Since the Internet is a worldwide, electronic network, there is no state, county, or local control of its users or contents. In offering use of the Internet, the Network or its host sites (see attached list) cannot control access to web sites. Furthermore, the Network has determined that the use of filters or other devices designed to restrict access to the Internet are not foolproof and are sometimes ineffective. Therefore, Internet users are hereby notified that they are responsible for which web sites they access. The Internet is a global network with a highly diverse user population, and Network computer users are allowed access at their own risk. The Network's policies prohibit access to inappropriate materials by setting forth acceptable and unacceptable uses of the Internet. Parents of minor children must assume responsibility for, and monitor, their children's use of the Internet through the Network's host sites.
2. The Network and its host sites assume no responsibility for any damages or losses, of any nature whatsoever, direct or indirect, loss of data, or loss of privacy arising from the use of the Network and its host sites' computers or Internet connections. Although Network computers include ant-virus software, this does not guarantee that files downloaded from the Internet will not contain viruses.
3. The accuracy of information obtained through the Internet is the responsibility of each originator or producer of that information. Therefore, the Network and its host sites do not guaranty the accuracy of any information obtained through the Internet. Each user needs to be a good information consumer and question the accuracy of the information that he or she obtains.