Internet Policy

Background

The Internet represents a wide variety of applications, services and telecommunication connections for GovC's employees. Due to the Internet's ease of use and efficiency, it has become a valuable tool in our workplace for research and communication. Professional and appropriate use of the Internet is imperative to ensure a productive work environment, as well as to efficiently allocate available Internet capacity throughout the GovC managed network.

Policy

All use of computer hardware or software owned or provided by GovC or used in performance of GovC business must be in compliance with Federal and State statutes, applicable regulations, industry standards, public standards, and the additional standards and procedures of this policy.

Computer files, hardware, software, datacomms, or similar property are systems made available to, or entrusted to employees, and are the property of GovC or supplied by the government and are intended to be used for business purposes. These systems and their contents, whether issued with or generated on the systems, are subject to inspection, examination, monitoring, or disclosure by authorized company personnel.

GovC may access employee computer files, computer networks, or other company property for purposes that include, but are not limited to, (a) employee unavailability, (b) suspicion of or investigation into unauthorized use of any form of company property, (c) quality control of training activities, (d) assessing job performance, and (e) monitoring compliance with Federal and State laws and regulations.

Guidelines

Internet Purpose

Computer files, hardware, software, or similar property are systems made available to, or entrusted to employees, and are the property of GovC or supplied by the government and are intended to be used for business purposes. All transmissions to and from the Internet via these systems should be for business purposes. De minimus (limited) personal use is acceptable. Other than de minimus personal use is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Right to Privacy

Employees should know that Internet usage may be monitored or audited from time to time. Employees should have no expectation of privacy regarding Internet usage.

Prohibitions

GovC expressly prohibits accessing the Internet for any of the following uses:

(1) Access to or downloading materials from any site where the principal content of that site is sexually oriented;

(2) Participation in any activity of an illegal nature;

(3) Gambling, or gaming;

(4) Participation in “chat room” communications, including IRC;

(5) Transmission of communications that contain libelous, defamatory, illegal, discriminatory, offensive, threatening or harassing language; and

(6) Transmission of communications that disparage others based on their sex, race, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or religious or political beliefs.

Copyrights

It is your obligation to respect the property rights of others both in the transmission and receipt of materials from the Internet. Be sure to check materials for copyright notices before downloading them from the Internet or transmitting them via the Internet. If you are unsure of the proprietary nature of information you are reviewing, seek guidance from your supervisor before you act.

Defamation

Employees shall not transmit any information over the Internet that could be considered defamatory.

Internet Protocol ("IP")

Use Within the GovC Managed Network. The corporate Information Systems Department (hereinafter referred to as the "IS Dept.") has control and authority over all internetworking routers that comprise the managed network. This authority extends to all IP addresses used and routed within the managed network environment. Additionally:

(1) Internet use throughout the GovC managed network is not free-form, but controlled and approved in order to ensure information security as well as to manage available capacity. Any breach of external security must be approved in writing by the IS Dept. Director;

(2) Traditional Internet technical services are permitted for business-associated purposes; however, written notification to the IS Dept. Director of intent to establish such technical Internet use must be received prior to the first use;

(3) Internet E-mail services from GovC business sites, supported with company resources, whether or not GovC organizational domain names are used, will be conducted in conformance with the GovC E-mail Policy.

Downloaded Files

Downloading of business-related material is permissible within the limits described throughout this policy; however, all such files are to be checked prior to use with GovC-approved anti-virus software to ensure that the files are virus free. Additionally, any software programs acquired via download are to be legally obtained, duly registered, and are to be for legitimate business-related use.

Violations

Employees found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment with GovC.