Agreement for Optimum Voice

THESE CABLEVISION TERMS OF SERVICE GOVERNING YOUR USE OF OPTIMUM VOICE INCLUDE A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH 9 WHICH INCLUDES A WAIVER OF CLASS ACTIONS AND PROVISIONS FOR OPTING OUT OF ARBITRATION.

CSC Holdings LLC (formerly CSC Holdings, Inc.) ("Cablevision") is pleased to provide its Optimum Voice Service to you in accordance with these terms and conditions, which terms and conditions incorporate and include the General Terms and Conditions of Service, the Agreement for Optimum Online and Optimum Online Boost, and the Cablevision Subscriber Privacy Notice, as they may be changed from time to time.

Subscriber's use of the Optimum Voice Service shall be deemed acknowledgment that Subscriber has read and agreed to these terms of service. Any user who does not agree to be bound by these terms should immediately stop their use of the Optimum Voice Service and notify the Cablevision Subscriber Service Department to terminate the account. This is a legal document.

1. Services Provided: Cablevision's Optimum Voice digital phone service provides unlimited calling within the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the US Virgin Islands in connection with Cablevision's Optimum Online service in accordance with the following terms and conditions. Optimum Voice also offers optional international calling plans for direct-dialed calls made from the Subscriber's home to locations outside of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and the US Virgin Islands.
2. Monthly Service Fee: Subscriber agrees to pay the monthly service charge for Optimum Voice service. Optimum Voice service is offered only as an additional service of Cablevision's Optimum Online offering and may not be purchased as a stand-alone service. Optimum Voice is offered only to the Cablevision authorized service address where Optimum Online service is provided. Cablevision reserves the right to increase or decrease the fee for any services offered. Fees for Optimum Voice service shall be posted at the Optimum Voice Web site. Optimum Voice service will be terminated in the event the Subscriber does not pay. The interstate/international allocation of Optimum Voice telephone service is based upon a traffic study that analyzes the intrastate, interstate and international minutes of all customers.

3. Optimum Voice Service Features: Optimum Voice service is offered with the following features:

   1. Unlimited local, regional and long distance calling within the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the US Virgin Islands, call waiting, caller ID with name, call waiting with caller ID, anonymous call blocker, private outbound calling, find me, VIP ringing, busy redial, caller ID blocking (*67), call return (*69), three-way calling, call forwarding, call forwarding on busy/no answer, call forward time of day, do not disturb, back up phone, block unwanted callers, enhanced voicemail, The Optimum Voice Home Page, unlimited inbound calling. Direct-dial calls outside of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and the US Virgin Islands are available only with one of Optimum Voice's International Calling Plans. Optimum Voice does not support directory listed numbers, busy line verification, busy line interruption, and operator assisted calling (including person to person and station to station calling), pay services or third-party billing. Call forwarding and Find Me are not available outside the continental U.S.

   2. Enhanced 911 (E-911) is a feature of the Optimum Voice service that allows emergency operators to automatically know the telephone number and address of the dialing party.

      This E-911 feature has certain requirements in order to operate, as well as certain limitations:

      1. The emergency service provider handling the E-911 call, and the address the emergency service provider will see, are linked to the service address Cablevision has on file when the Subscriber originally signed up for service. If the Subscriber does not correctly identify where the Subscriber's voice-enabled cable modem is actually located, or if the voice-enabled cable modem is moved away from the original service address, the Subscriber's 911 calls may be misdirected to the wrong home or to the wrong emergency service provider.

         Therefore, in order to have 911 calls routed correctly, the Subscriber acknowledges responsibility to promptly notify Cablevision of any change in service address.

      2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Regarding Keeping Your Optimum Voice Phone Number When you Move: Please be aware that during the first 72 hours of arriving at Subscriber's new service address, if Subscriber dials 911 from their Optimum Voice phone, Subscriber must relay to the emergency service operator the new (current) service address. This is necessary to ensure emergency services are dispatched to Subscriber's new service address and not the old service address in the event the emergency services operator may not have the new Registered Location in their records.
      3. Optimum Voice Service does not have its own power supply. If there is a power outage, or if there is a disruption to the cable network or facilities, the Service will not work. Subscriber expressly acknowledges that in such cases it will not be possible to place or receive calls including calls to access emergency 911 services.
      4. If the Subscriber so chooses, Subscriber may separately purchase a battery backup for use with their voice-enabled cable modem in the instance of a non-network related outage at www.optimum.com.
   3. Optimum Voice subscribers can purchase up to four (4) lines at their service address.

   4. Optimum Voice offers both professional and self installation:

      There are two options for professional installation of the service:

      1. Basic installation: Cablevision will connect one (1) telephone to an available phone port activated on the applicable Optimum Voice cable modem. Cablevision is not responsible for connecting other phones in the home to the Optimum voice cable modem.
      2. Home wiring solution: Optimum Voice provides a home wiring solution that enables Subscribers to use Optimum Voice on existing home phone jacks. Cablevision reserves the right to determine the manner in which the home wiring solution is executed in the Subscriber's home. In certain cases, Cablevision may be required to alter or adapt the Subscriber's inside wiring so that Optimum Voice is available on the existing phones. Subscriber's that wish use Optimum Voice as the connection between their home security system and central station monitoring, must request the Enhanced Wiring solution:
         1. Optimum Voice does not offer a wire maintenance plan. The Subscriber is solely responsible for maintaining all inside wire and phones within the home. Optimum Voice will troubleshoot and fix reported problems for a specified service charge. The service charge is based on the then current rate in effect.
         2. In certain buildings such as multiple dwelling units, Optimum Voice may not have access to the Subscriber's inside wiring located within the apartment unit. In these instances, Cablevision has the right to determine how best to wire the Subscriber's home, either by installing a predetermined number of new jacks in the Subscriber's home or by performing a Basic Optimum Voice installation described above.
         3. The Enhanced Wiring Solution is for use with remotely monitored home security systems that use Optimum Voice as a phone line to communicate with their alarm company's central station monitoring equipment.
   5. With self installation, a self-install kit is shipped directly to a Subscriber's home or can be picked up at a CVC Optimum Store. With this kit, the Subscriber will be able to connect one (1) telephone to the Optimum Voice cable modem.

   6. Optimum Voice offers a per minute calling plan for direct-dialed calls made from the Subscriber's home to locations outside of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and the US Virgin Islands. The per minute calling plan also includes a remote calling feature that enables the Subscriber to make international calls, as well as domestic calls, when they are away from home. A Subscriber who chooses to participate in the per minute international calling plan will be charged for direct-dial international calls and remote calls in addition to the flat monthly recurring rate that the Subscriber pays for the Optimum Voice service. Subscriber's may enroll in the optional per minute calling plan through the Optimum Voice Home Page. The Optimum Voice per minute international calling plan is further subject to the specific terms and conditions governing Subscriber's enrollment in this optional calling plan. You may access the specific terms and conditions applicable to the international calling plan. Cablevision reserves the right to modify service features at any time.

   7. Optimum Voice also offers an optional flat rate international calling plan, branded as Optimum Voice® World Call, for direct-dialed calls made from your home to locations outside of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and the US Virgin Islands. If you choose this plan, you will be charged a flat monthly fee for direct-dial international calls in addition to the flat monthly recurring rate that you pay for Optimum Voice service. You may enroll in the optional Optimum Voice World Call plan through the Optimum Voice Home Page or by contacting Optimum Voice Subscriber service. The Optimum Voice World Call plan is further subject to the specific terms and conditions governing Subscriber's enrollment in this optional calling plan. You may access the specific terms and conditions applicable to Optimum Voice World Call. Cablevision reserves the right to modify service features at any time.

   8. Cablevision may from time to time offer other international calling plans. These plans may be further subject to specific terms and conditions and subject to change at any time by Cablevision.
   9. Optimum Voice may from time to time, offer additional service features or functionality. Information about these features or functions will be available through the Optimum Voice Home Page. These features or functions may be further subject to specific terms and conditions and subject to change at any time by Cablevision.
   10. Optimum Voice will associate the Subscriber's name on the Cablevision account to the Optimum Voice telephone number to be displayed in association with Caller Name (CNAM) lookup services provided by Optimum Voice and other telecommunications service providers for all calls made from any of the Optimum Voice telephone numbers on the account. In the event that Subscriber wishes to modify the Caller Name, Subscriber agrees to the following: Caller Name submissions(s) shall not mislead or impersonate any person or company; Caller Name submission(s) shall not contain false information and shall accurately represent the name of the person that subscribes to the service and is included in directory listings; Caller Name submission(s) shall not contain abusive, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, racist or any other language objectionable to any person or entity as determined by Cablevision or the publisher in its sole discretion; and Caller Name submission(s) shall comply with all relevant laws, rules and regulations
4. Optimum Voice Service Limitations:
   1. Service outages: The Optimum Voice modem is electrically powered and will not work in a power outage or if broadband connection is disrupted or not operating. In the event of power outages, the modem, including all phones and services connected to or powered by it, will not work. Power outages will disrupt Enhanced 911 service, and the use of Optimum Voice as the connection between a home security system and central monitoring services. Subscriber's may choose to purchase a battery backup for use in the event of a non-network related outage at www.optimum.com.

   2. Home security systems: If Subscriber has a centrally monitored home security system, and selects our Enhanced Wiring option, Optimum Voice will be wired so that it may be available for use with such system. Although Optimum Voice will supply a connection that will allow the operation of Subscriber's existing home security system, Optimum Voice does not guarantee that any such system will be in complete operational order following the installation of Optimum Voice. As such, it is Subscriber's obligation to contact their home security system provider to inform them of Optimum Voice installation and any change in phone number and to request a complete operational test of such system immediately following installation of Optimum Voice service. In addition, it is Subscriber's responsibility to test their system on a regular basis. In the even of power outage or network outage (whether unplanned or maintenance related), your Optimum Voice service, including any home security system, which uses Optimum Voice to connect to central station monitoring, will not function. As set forth in Section 3(B) above, if Subscriber so chooses, Subscriber may separately purchase a battery backup for use with their voice-enabled cable modem in the instance of a non-network related outage at www.optimum.com.

      Like any other communications service provider, we do not represent that our service is fail-safe. In addition, Cablevision prohibits the use of Optimum Voice as the connection between medical alert systems and central station monitoring, and will neither connect to such services nor provide technical support for the connection.

   3. Limitations on operator assisted calls: Currently, certain operator assisted services such as busy line verification, busy line interruption and operator assisted calling (including person-to-person and station-to-station calling), dial around services (10-10-XXX), pay services (900 and 976 services), collect calling and third-party billing are not offered with the Optimum Voice service.
5. Equipment required: Optimum Voice service requires a voice-enabled cable modem. Cablevision will supply a voice-enabled modem without charge for so long as Subscriber remains an Optimum Voice Subscriber or until Cablevision changes this service offering. Upon termination of either Optimum Voice or Optimum Online Service for any reason, Subscriber may be asked to return the Cablevision supplied (excluding purchased modems) voice-enabled cable modem within thirty (30) days or Subscriber will be charged an equipment fee equal to the fee charged by Cablevision at the time the voice-enabled modem was supplied by Cablevision. Alternatively, Subscriber may purchase a voice-enabled cable modem from Cablevision. The cost for the purchase of the voice-enabled modem will be charged to Subscriber's Cablevision service bill. In the event Subscriber purchases the voice-enabled cable modem from Cablevision and terminates services within thirty (30) days, Subscriber may return the modem for a full credit of the purchase price.
6. Term: Optimum Voice Service shall continue until such time as terminated by Subscriber, which shall be effective upon notice, or terminated by Cablevision for breach (including nonpayment) of this Agreement for Optimum Voice or the Agreement For Optimum Online Service, or otherwise terminated by Cablevision in accordance with its General Terms and Conditions of Service.
7. Directory Listing: Optimum Voice offers a directory listing capability. Details are available by clicking here.
8. Incorporation of Cablevision's Agreement for Optimum Online Service: Optimum Voice services are offered as an additional service of Cablevision's Optimum Online service offering. Subscriber agrees that the Agreement for Optimum Online and Optimum Online Boost Service are incorporated into this Agreement for Optimum Voice and shall apply to Optimum Voice services. The Agreement for Optimum Voice shall control in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of the Agreement for Optimum Online and Optimum Online Boost Service. Read Agreement for Optimum Online's and Optimum Online Boost Service.
9. Arbitration: Except as noted below under "Excepted Claims," any and all disputes arising between You and Cablevision, or related to or arising from your relationship with Cablevision, including the validity, enforceability, or scope of this Arbitration Provision (with the exception of the enforceability of the class action waiver clause), shall be subject to binding arbitration in accordance with this Arbitration Provision.

   Resolving your dispute with Cablevision through arbitration means you will have a fair hearing before a neutral arbitrator instead of in a court by a judge or jury. YOU AGREE THAT BY ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU AND CABLEVISION EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.

   IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION, YOU MUST NOTIFY CABLEVISION IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE THAT YOU FIRST RECEIVE THIS AGREEMENT BY EMAILING US AT NOARBITRATION@CABLEVISION.COM OR BY MAIL TO CABLEVISION RESEARCH & SUPPORT, 200 JERICHO QUADRANGLE, JERICHO, NY 11753 ATTN. ARBITRATION. YOUR WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO CABLEVISION MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND CABLEVISION ACCOUNT NUMBER AS WELL AS A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT YOU DO NOT WISH TO RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH CABLEVISION THROUGH ARBITRATION. YOUR DECISION TO OPT OUT OF THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION WILL HAVE NO ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CABLEVISION OR THE DELIVERY OF CABLEVISION SERVICES TO YOU. IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED CABLEVISION OF YOUR DECISION TO OPT OUT OF ARBITRATION, YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO SO AGAIN.

   Because the Service(s) provided to you concerns interstate commerce, the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA"), not state arbitration law, shall govern the arbitrability of all disputes under this Arbitration Provision. Any state statutes pertaining to arbitration shall not be applicable. You and Cablevision agree that applicable state law or federal law shall apply to and govern, as appropriate, the substance of all claims or causes of action, remedies, and damages arising between You and Cablevision.

   The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), 335 Madison Ave., Floor 10, New York, NY 10017-4605, 1-800-778-7879, www.adr.org under the AAA's Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes. If the AAA will not enforce this Arbitration Provision as written, it cannot serve as the arbitration organization to resolve your dispute. If this situation arises, or if the AAA for any reason cannot serve as the arbitration organization, the parties shall agree on a substitute arbitration organization or ad hoc arbitration, which will enforce this Arbitration Provision as to the dispute. If the parties are unable to agree, the parties shall mutually petition a court of appropriate jurisdiction to appoint an arbitration organization or ad hoc arbitrator that will enforce this Arbitration Provision as written. If there is a conflict between this Arbitration Provision and the AAA rules, this Arbitration Provision shall govern.

   A single arbitrator will resolve the dispute between You and Cablevision. Participation in arbitration may result in limited discovery. The arbitrator will honor claims of privilege recognized by law and will take reasonable steps to protect confidential or proprietary information, including subscriber personally identifiable information.

   All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, including the scope of this Arbitration Provision, but the Arbitrator is limited and bound by terms of this Arbitration Provision. The arbitrator will make any award in writing but need not provide a statement of reasons unless requested by a party. An award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the parties for purposes of enforcement.

   Unless you agree otherwise, any arbitration hearings will take place in a location convenient to you in the area where you receive the Service(s). If the amount in dispute is less than $50,000, Cablevision agrees that you may choose whether the arbitration is conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator on a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing as established by AAA rules.

   If an award granted by the arbitrator exceeds $75,000 or includes any form of injunctive relief, either party can appeal that award to a three-arbitrator panel administered by AAA by a written notice of appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of entry of the written arbitration award. An award of injunctive relief shall be stayed during any such appeal. The members of the three-arbitrator panel will be selected according to AAA rules. The three-arbitrator panel will issue its decision within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date of the appealing party's notice of appeal. The decision of the three-arbitrator panel shall be final and binding, except for any appellate right that exists under the FAA.

   You agree that if You fail to contact Cablevision within one (1) year of the date of the occurrence of the event or facts giving rise to a dispute, You waive the right to pursue, in any forum, including arbitration or court, a claim based upon such event, facts or dispute.

   YOU AGREE TO ARBITRATE YOUR DISPUTE ON A SOLELY INDIVIDUAL BASIS; CLASS ARBITRATIONS AND CLASS ACTIONS ARE NOT PERMITTED. You and Cablevision agree that the other may bring claims against the other only in your or its individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. This Arbitration Provision does not permit and explicitly prohibits the arbitration of consolidated or class action disputes. No claim may be brought on behalf of the general public or as a private attorney general or on behalf of other subscribers or similarly situated persons unless the statute you are suing under provides for such actions. No claim subject to arbitration hereunder may be combined with a claim subject to resolution before a court of law.

   The arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief. Such injunctive relief may only be awarded to the extent necessary to (i) provide relief warranted by that party's individual claim and (ii) to return that party to the position it occupied before its claim arose. The arbitrator's authority to award injunctive relief is limited solely to the relationship between the claimant and Cablevision. The arbitrator may not award injunctive relief to any person or entity other than the claimant or that would interfere with the operation of the cable system. Further, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding.

   CABLEVISION WILL ADVANCE ALL ARBITRATION FILING FEES AND ARBITRATOR'S COSTS AND EXPENSES UPON YOUR WRITTEN REQUEST PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ARBITRATION. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT YOU INCUR IN THE ARBITRATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ATTORNEYS OR EXPERT WITNESSES.

   IF THE ARBITRATION PROCEEDING IS DECIDED IN CABLEVISION'S FAVOR, YOU SHALL REIMBURSE CABLEVISION FOR THE FEES AND COSTS ADVANCED TO YOU ONLY UP TO THE EXTENT AWARDABLE IN A JUDICIAL PROCEEDING. IF THE ARBITRATION PROCEEDING IS DETERMINED IN YOUR FAVOR, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE CABLEVISION FOR ANY OF THE FEES AND COSTS ADVANCED BY CABLEVISION.

   IF A PARTY ELECTS TO APPEAL AN AWARD TO A THREE-ARBITRATOR PANEL, THE PREVAILING PARTY IN THE APPEAL SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS INCURRED IN THAT APPEAL.

   NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION, CABLEVISION WILL PAY ALL FEES AND COSTS THAT IT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO PAY.

   If the ban on class action or class arbitration contained in this Arbitration Provision is held to be unenforceable, then the sections of this Arbitration Provision requiring arbitration of claims will be unenforceable, and the claim will be decided in court. In that instance, or any instance when a claim between You and Cablevision proceeds to court rather than through arbitration, You and Cablevision each waive the right to any trial by jury through this Agreement.

   If any portion of this Arbitration Provision besides the ban on consolidation and class actions is determined to be unenforceable, then the remainder of this Arbitration Provision shall be given full force and effect. The terms of this paragraph of the Arbitration Provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of this Agreement.

   For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Excepted Claims" shall mean claims (a) relating to a party's intellectual property rights; (b) relating to the unauthorized use, theft, or piracy of products or services; (c) in which the aggregate amount in controversy may be heard in a small claims court in your jurisdiction, in which case either party can proceed to that court; or (d) which a party may bring before a regulatory authority or agency empowered by applicable law, provided, however, that the claim is not a collective or class action or brought on behalf of the general public, as a private attorney general, or in any other representative capacity

10. Limitation of Liability: Optimum Voice service is provided "AS IS." The liability of Cablevision for damages arising out of the furnishing of services hereunder, including but not limited to mistakes, omissions, interruptions, delays or errors or other defaults, representations or use of these services or arising out of the failure to furnish the Optimum Voice Service, whether caused by acts of commission or omission shall be limited to a allowance for the time period of any Optimum Voice Service interruption. Cablevision shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, exemplary or punitive losses or damages, including loss of profits, loss of earnings, loss of business opportunities and personal injuries that a Subscriber may suffer. Finally, Cablevision shall not be liable for any loss or interruptions in service or for any damages or losses due to the fault or negligence of the Subscriber, or any Authorized User, or any other party or person(s), or due to the failure or malfunction of Subscriber-provided or Authorized User-provided equipment or facilities due to the failure of the Subscriber to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement.
    
    
11. Force Majeure: Cablevision shall not be liable for any failure of performance or equipment due to causes beyond its control, including but not limited to: acts of God, fire, flood, or other catastrophes; any law, order, regulation, direction, action, or request of the United States Government, or of any other government, including state and local governments having or claiming jurisdiction over Cablevision, or of any department agency, commission, bureau, corporation, or other instrumentality of any one or more of these federal, state, or local governments, or of any civil or military authority; national emergencies; insurrection; riots, wars; unavailability of rights-of-way or materials; or strikes, lock-outs, work stoppages, or other labor difficulties.
    
    
12. Installation: Charges for installation services and equipment will be charged at the then current rate in effect.
13. Taxes: Applicable fees and surcharges, if any, will be added to your monthly bill.
14. Prohibited Uses: Optimum Voice service may be used as a residential voice service only and may not be used for commercial purposes, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, call center services, medical transcription or facsimile broadcasting. In addition, auto-dialers and predictive dialers may not be used with Optimum Voice service. Optimum Voice is intended to be used consistent with its intended normal residential use. For instance, unlimited voice plans are intended to be used for continuous live dialog between the subscriber and a third party. Certain other activity such as excessive consistent usage, unusual call patterns, and lack of continuous dialog activity may be presumed indicative of use that is inconsistent with normal use of the service in violation of these terms of service.
15. Amendment: Cablevision may, in its sole discretion, change, modify, add or remove portions of this Agreement for Optimum Voice at any time. Cablevision may notify Subscriber of any such changes by posting notice of such changes on the Optimum Web site, or sending notice via e-mail or postal mail. The Subscriber's continued use of the Optimum Voice service following notice of such change, modification or amendment shall be deemed to be the Subscriber's acceptance of any such modification. If Subscriber does not agree to any modification of this Agreement for Optimum Voice, Subscriber must immediately cease using the Optimum Voice service and notify Cablevision that Subscriber is terminating Optimum Voice service. In addition, this Agreement for Optimum Voice is subject to change in compliance with applicable law.
16. Entire Agreement: This Agreement for Optimum Voice shall be posted at Optimum.net and are the only terms and conditions that govern Optimum Voice service. No undertaking, representation or warranty made by any agent or representative of Cablevision in connection with the sale, installation, maintenance or removal of Optimum Voice services shall modify or amend the Agreement for Optimum Voice Service posted at Optimum.net.