Open Internet Statement

APEX Business Consultants LLC (DBA NovaLink Fiber)

Last Updated: January 1, 2026

1. Commitment to Open Internet Principles

APEX Business Consultants LLC, doing business as NovaLink Fiber (“NovaLink,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), is committed to providing open, unrestricted internet access in accordance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Open Internet rules and principles.

We support the fundamental principle that consumers and businesses should have access to the lawful internet content, applications, and services of their choice, without interference from internet service providers.

This Open Internet Statement outlines our network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms to ensure transparency and compliance with federal regulations.

2. No Blocking

NovaLink does not block access to lawful content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices.

2.1 What This Means

You are free to:

  • Access any lawful website or online service
  • Use any lawful application (streaming, gaming, VoIP, VPN, etc.)
  • Connect any device to your network (smartphones, tablets, computers, smart home devices, game consoles, etc.)
  • Use any lawful protocol or technology

2.2 Exceptions for Lawful Network Management

NovaLink may block or restrict access only in the following limited circumstances:

Security Threats:

  • Blocking access to known malware distribution sites, phishing websites, or botnet command-and-control servers
  • Temporarily blocking ports or protocols being actively exploited for attacks against our network or customers

Legal Compliance:

  • Complying with court orders, law enforcement requests, or regulatory requirements to block specific content
  • Blocking content that violates applicable law (child exploitation material, illegal file sharing when subject to valid court order)

Network Protection:

  • Blocking IP addresses or traffic sources engaged in active DDoS attacks against our network
  • Temporarily limiting traffic from compromised customer devices participating in attacks (customer notified immediately)

Any blocking for network management purposes is:

  • Temporary and narrowly tailored
  • Removed as soon as the threat or issue is resolved
  • Disclosed to affected customers when feasible

2.3 No Port Blocking for Legitimate Use

NovaLink does not routinely block common ports used for legitimate purposes. However:

Port 25 (SMTP Outbound Email):

  • May be blocked or rate-limited on residential connections to prevent spam and email abuse
  • Legitimate email use is supported via alternative ports (587, 465) or authenticated relay
  • Business customers can request Port 25 access

Other Ports:

  • No blocking of VPN ports, remote desktop ports, gaming ports, or other commonly used services

3. No Throttling

NovaLink does not throttle, impair, or degrade lawful internet traffic based on content, application, service, user, or website.

3.1 What This Means

We do not:

  • Slow down specific websites or services (e.g., streaming video from competitors)
  • Throttle specific applications (e.g., peer-to-peer file sharing, VoIP, gaming)
  • Limit speeds based on the content you access
  • Degrade service quality for any lawful use

3.2 Speed Tiers and Advertised Speeds

NovaLink offers multiple speed tiers:

  • Spark: Up to 100 Mbps symmetrical
  • Blaze: Up to 500 Mbps symmetrical
  • Supernova: Up to 1 Gbps symmetrical
  • Hypernova: Up to 2 Gbps symmetrical

Advertised speeds represent maximum capabilities, not guaranteed minimum speeds. Actual speeds may vary based on:

  • Network congestion and overall internet traffic conditions
  • Performance of websites, applications, or services you access
  • Your home network configuration (WiFi vs. ethernet, router capabilities, device limitations)
  • Number of devices connected and simultaneous usage
  • Distance from ONT (Optical Network Terminal) and quality of internal wiring

These variations are inherent limitations of internet technology, not throttling.

3.3 Network Management and Congestion

During rare periods of network congestion, NovaLink may implement protocol-agnostic, application-agnostic congestion management to ensure fair access for all customers:

Congestion Management Practices:

  • Applied equally to all traffic types based on technical characteristics (packet priority, latency sensitivity), not content or application
  • Time-sensitive traffic (VoIP calls, video conferencing) may receive priority over delay-tolerant traffic (software updates, file downloads) during congestion
  • All customers have equal access to this prioritization—we do not favor our own services or paid priority arrangements

Congestion management:

  • Occurs only during actual network congestion (rare on our fiber network)
  • Is removed immediately when congestion subsides
  • Does not distinguish between competitors, content providers, or websites

3.4 No Data Caps or Overage Throttling

NovaLink provides unlimited data with no monthly data caps. We do not:

  • Throttle speeds after reaching a data threshold
  • Charge overage fees for excessive usage
  • Impose hard data limits

Fair Use and Excessive Usage:
While we offer unlimited data, residential service plans are designed for typical household use. Customers in the top 1% of usage (sustained multi-terabyte monthly consumption) may be contacted to:

  • Ensure service meets their needs
  • Recommend business plans if usage patterns indicate commercial operation (web hosting, server operation, reselling)

We do not throttle high-usage customers. We may recommend plan changes but do not impose speed limits based on data consumption.

4. No Paid Prioritization

NovaLink does not engage in paid prioritization arrangements that favor some traffic over others in exchange for compensation.

4.1 What This Means

We do not:

  • Accept payment from websites, content providers, or edge providers to deliver their traffic faster or with higher priority
  • Create “fast lanes” for companies that pay us
  • Degrade competitors’ traffic to favor our own services or partners
  • Offer priority network access in exchange for compensation

4.2 All Traffic Treated Equally

NovaLink treats all lawful internet traffic equally, regardless of:

  • Source (which website or service)
  • Destination (which customer)
  • Commercial relationships or payment
  • Content type or application

Example:

  • Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and all streaming services receive identical treatment
  • We do not accept payment from streaming providers to prioritize their traffic
  • Your chosen services perform based on their own infrastructure and our available bandwidth, not payment arrangements

4.3 Exception: Specialized Services

NovaLink may offer specialized services that are distinct from standard internet access, such as:

  • Managed VoIP telephone service with QoS guarantees
  • IPTV service with guaranteed bandwidth
  • Dedicated business connectivity (point-to-point fiber)

These specialized services:

  • Are offered to customers (not edge providers)
  • Do not degrade or compromise standard internet access speeds
  • Are technically distinct from general internet service
  • Are clearly disclosed and optional

Currently, NovaLink offers only standard internet access and does not provide specialized managed services.

5. Network Practices

5.1 Network Management Practices

NovaLink employs reasonable network management practices to ensure network security, reliability, and performance:

Congestion Management:

  • Fiber networks rarely experience congestion due to high capacity
  • If congestion occurs, protocol-agnostic, application-agnostic traffic management may be applied temporarily
  • Management is based on technical requirements (latency sensitivity, jitter tolerance), not content or commercial relationships

Security Management:

  • Monitoring for security threats (DDoS attacks, malware propagation, botnet activity)
  • Temporary blocking or rate-limiting of malicious traffic
  • Notification to customers with compromised devices

Spam Prevention:

  • Port 25 (SMTP) may be blocked or rate-limited on residential accounts to prevent spam abuse
  • Alternative email ports (587, 465) available for legitimate use

Device and Connection Limits:

  • Residential service supports typical household device counts (generally 20-30 connected devices)
  • Excessive simultaneous connections or server-like usage may indicate need for business service

5.2 Application-Specific Behavior

NovaLink does not employ application-specific network management that discriminates based on application type.

We do not:

  • Throttle peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing applications
  • Degrade VPN or encrypted traffic
  • Prioritize or deprioritize specific protocols (HTTP, BitTorrent, VoIP, etc.)
  • Inspect packet contents to determine application type for traffic management

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI):

  • NovaLink does not use DPI to analyze packet contents for advertising, traffic discrimination, or application-specific throttling
  • We may inspect packet headers (source, destination, protocol) for security and network management purposes

5.3 Device Attachment Rules

NovaLink permits attachment of any lawful, non-harmful device to your service:

  • Personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones
  • Game consoles, streaming devices, smart TVs
  • IoT devices (smart home, security cameras, thermostats)
  • Routers and networking equipment

Prohibited Devices:

  • Devices designed to intercept, monitor, or harm network traffic
  • Devices that generate harmful interference or excessive broadcast traffic
  • Devices used for illegal purposes

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Routers:

  • You may use your own router instead of NovaLink-provided equipment
  • You are responsible for configuration, security, and troubleshooting
  • NovaLink provides limited technical support for customer-owned equipment

5.4 Security Practices

Network Security Measures:

  • Firewalls and intrusion detection systems protect network infrastructure
  • Monitoring for DDoS attacks, port scans, and malicious traffic patterns
  • Automatic blocking of IP addresses engaged in active attacks
  • Customer notification if devices are compromised or participating in attacks

Customer Privacy:

  • We do not monitor the content of your communications
  • We do not sell or monetize your browsing data
  • Traffic inspection is limited to metadata (source, destination, protocol) for network management and security
  • See our Privacy Policy for details: www.novalinkfiber.com

6. Performance Characteristics

6.1 Service Tier Performance

NovaLink offers symmetrical fiber internet with the following advertised speeds:

Plan Download Speed Upload Speed Latency (Typical)
Spark Up to 100 Mbps Up to 100 Mbps 5-15 ms
Blaze Up to 500 Mbps Up to 500 Mbps 5-15 ms
Supernova Up to 1 Gbps Up to 1 Gbps 5-15 ms
Hypernova Up to 2 Gbps Up to 2 Gbps 5-15 ms

Symmetrical Speeds:
All NovaLink plans provide equal download and upload speeds, unlike cable or DSL services that offer limited upload capacity.

6.2 Actual vs. Advertised Speeds

Advertised speeds (“up to”) represent maximum capabilities under ideal conditions.

Factors affecting actual speeds:

Network Factors:

  • Time of day and network congestion (peak evening hours may see reduced speeds)
  • Internet backbone congestion outside NovaLink’s network
  • Performance of websites, content delivery networks (CDNs), or services you access

Customer Equipment:

  • WiFi signal strength and interference (walls, distance, competing networks)
  • Router capabilities and age (older routers may not support gigabit speeds)
  • Device limitations (older computers, smartphones with slower WiFi adapters)
  • Ethernet vs. WiFi connection (WiFi is typically slower than direct ethernet)

Home Network:

  • Quality of internal wiring
  • Number of devices connected simultaneously
  • Bandwidth-intensive activities (4K streaming, large downloads, video conferencing)

Expected Performance:
Under typical conditions, customers should achieve:

  • Wired connection (ethernet): 80-100% of advertised speed
  • WiFi connection (5 GHz, close to router): 60-90% of advertised speed
  • WiFi connection (2.4 GHz or distant): 40-70% of advertised speed

6.3 Latency and Packet Loss

Latency (Ping Time):

  • Typical latency to regional servers: 5-15 milliseconds
  • Latency to distant servers varies based on geographic distance and routing
  • Fiber provides lower, more consistent latency than cable or DSL

Packet Loss:

  • Properly functioning fiber networks experience near-zero packet loss (<0.1%)
  • Packet loss may occur due to WiFi interference or customer equipment issues

Jitter:

  • Variation in latency, important for VoIP and gaming
  • Fiber provides low jitter (typically <2 ms) under normal conditions

6.4 Service Reliability

Uptime Target:

  • NovaLink targets 99.5% uptime annually
  • Excludes outages caused by force majeure (power outages, natural disasters, third-party infrastructure failures)

Service Interruptions:

  • Scheduled maintenance performed during low-usage hours (typically midnight-6 AM)
  • Advance notice provided for planned maintenance when possible
  • Emergency repairs performed as quickly as possible with service restoration prioritized

7. Commercial Terms

7.1 Pricing and Plans

Current Pricing:
Visit www.novalinkfiber.com for current plan pricing and availability.

Two-Year Price Lock:

  • Your monthly service rate is locked for 24 months from activation
  • After 24 months, rates may change with 30 days’ advance notice

No Contracts:

  • Month-to-month service with no long-term contracts
  • No early termination fees—cancel anytime

Included in Monthly Price:

  • Unlimited data (no data caps or overage fees)
  • NovaLink-provided equipment (ONT and router)
  • 24/7 customer support

Additional Fees:

  • Installation fee (one-time, disclosed before installation)
  • Late payment fee ($10.00)
  • Equipment replacement fees (if lost or damaged)
  • See Payment Policy for complete fee schedule: www.novalinkfiber.com

7.2 Privacy Practices

Data Collection:
We collect information necessary to provide service:

  • Account information (name, address, payment details)
  • Network usage data (bandwidth consumption, connection times)
  • Customer support interactions

Data Usage:

  • Provide and improve internet service
  • Billing and account management
  • Network security and performance monitoring

We Do Not:

  • Sell your personal information or browsing data
  • Use deep packet inspection for advertising
  • Monetize your internet activity

Full Privacy Policy: www.novalinkfiber.com

7.3 Data Collection for Third-Party Advertising

NovaLink does not collect or share customer data for third-party advertising purposes.

We do not:

  • Track your browsing history for ad targeting
  • Sell customer data to advertisers or data brokers
  • Inject advertisements into websites you visit
  • Participate in behavioral advertising networks based on your internet activity

Website Analytics:
Our website (www.novalinkfiber.com) uses standard analytics tools (Google Analytics) to improve user experience. You may opt out using browser extensions or industry opt-out tools.

8. Redress Options

8.1 Customer Complaints and Concerns

If you have concerns about NovaLink’s compliance with Open Internet principles or network management practices:

Contact Customer Support:

Formal Complaint:

We Will:

  • Acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 2 business days
  • Investigate and respond within 10 business days
  • Provide a written explanation of our findings and any corrective action

8.2 FCC Complaints

If you believe NovaLink has violated FCC Open Internet rules, you may file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission:

FCC Consumer Complaint Center:

  • Online: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
  • Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
  • Mail: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554

8.3 State and Local Authorities

You may also file complaints with:

  • Your state public utility commission
  • State attorney general consumer protection division
  • Local consumer affairs office

9. Transparency and Reporting

9.1 Public Disclosure

This Open Internet Statement is publicly available at:

We provide clear, easily accessible information about our network management practices, performance characteristics, and commercial terms.

9.2 Updates to This Statement

NovaLink may update this Open Internet Statement to reflect changes in:

  • Network management practices
  • Service offerings or pricing
  • Legal or regulatory requirements
  • Technology improvements

Notification of Changes:

  • Material changes will be posted prominently on our website
  • Customers will be notified via email for significant changes
  • Updated statement is effective upon posting

9.3 FCC Compliance Reporting

NovaLink complies with FCC reporting requirements for broadband providers, including:

  • Broadband deployment and availability data (FCC Form 477)
  • Transparency disclosure requirements
  • Speed test and performance measurement participation (FCC Measuring Broadband America program)

10. Contact Information

For Open Internet Questions or Concerns:

Customer Support:

Compliance Officer:

General Information:

11. Definitions

Blocking: Preventing access to lawful content, applications, services, or devices.

Throttling: Impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic based on content, application, service, user, or non-harmful device.

Paid Prioritization: Managing network traffic to favor some traffic over others in exchange for consideration (monetary or otherwise).

Reasonable Network Management: Practices that are appropriate and tailored to achieving a legitimate network management purpose, taking into account technical and operational characteristics of the network.

Specialized Services: Services other than broadband internet access service that share capacity with broadband internet access service over a provider’s facilities and that are offered over the same network infrastructure.

End User: Individual or entity that uses broadband internet access service.

Edge Provider: Individual or entity providing content, applications, or services over the internet to end users.

NovaLink Fiber is committed to open internet principles and transparency. We will continue to provide unrestricted, neutral internet access to all customers.

Document Version 1.0 – January 1, 2026