Privacy Statements

HBC WEBSITE PRIVACY STATEMENT

This policy last was updated December 2, 2008

At Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc., we respect our customers and understand that you are concerned about privacy, so we’ve instituted policies intended to ensure that your personal information is handled safely and responsibly. This privacy policy is in place to let you know what kind of information we collect, how it is handled, with whom it may be shared, what choices you have regarding our use of your information, and how you may access some of the data you provide to us.

As we continue to develop our website and take advantage of technologies to improve the services we offer, this policy likely will change. We therefore encourage you to refer to this policy on an ongoing basis so that you understand our current privacy policy. You can always find the most current version of our privacy policy on this page.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us by calling 1-507-474-4000 or write to us at the following address:

HBC
58 Johnson Street
Winona, MN 55987

Or e-mail: subscriber.privacy@hbci.com

Notice to Users

The Internet allows you to span the globe and information can be accessed across countries and cultures. These sources of information belong to many different organizations, companies, governments and people around the world. Certain Internet services may contain language and pictures, which some individuals may find offensive or inflammatory. HBC exercises no control over the content of the information passing through the Internet and any use of information obtained via HBC Internet is at your own risk. We do not endorse such materials and disclaim any and all liability for their content. Internet filtering and monitoring software is commercially available at your local software retailer. HBC also provides a filtered access option.

What Information Do We Collect?

We collect various types of information depending upon how you use our site.

When you submit a question to customer service, we need your e-mail address to respond and you also may provide us with additional information to help us answer your question.

When you make a payment through my.hbci.com certain required information will be passed to HBC’s financial services employees for processing of the payment. Any information provided directly or indirectly to us or its financial services employees will be held in strict privacy and neither shared with nor disseminated to other individuals or businesses.

What Happens When You Are Browsing?

If you are not registered for any online service from HBC, you browse www.hbci.com anonymously. We do not collect personal information – such as your name, address, phone number or E-mail address – if you are browsing this site. HBC uses “cookies” technology to collect information about how our site is used, which includes such information as the IP (Internet protocol) address; the date and time of your visit; and the browser software and operating system used during your visit. It is collected and tracked in aggregate and not linked to you personally. We use this information to measure response rates to banner ads and surveys or potential offers.

What Are Cookies and Do We Use Them?

A cookie is a small piece of information sent by a website that is saved on your hard disk by your computer’s browser. It holds information a site may need to interact with you and personalize your experience. We use two kinds of cookies sessions: session cookies and persistent cookies.

Session cookies exist only for as long as your browser remains open. Once you exit your browser, they go away. We use session cookies to maintain information we need to have in order for you to shop. For example, the Session ID cookie that we ask your browser to hold retains the ID for your shopping cart. Without the Session ID cookie, you can’t add merchandise to your shopping cart and carry it to checkout.

Persistent cookies, in contrast, last from visit to visit; they do not go away when you exit your browser. We use persistent cookies to give you a more personalized shopping experience and to help you navigate our store more efficiently. We will use your information to enhance your site experience. However, you can use our site without accepting a persistent cookie. To do so, you should set your browser options to reject persistent cookies. Alternatively, you can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, which gives you the opportunity to decide whether you want to accept it or not. In many instances, the Help button on your browser toolbar will tell you how you can take these steps.

Cookies can be used by a website to recognize you. But that does not necessarily mean any personal information is stored in the cookies. We store no personal information about you in the cookies. Anything you choose to tell us about yourself (such as your address and e-mail address) is stored safely and separately on our secured severs.

We also use cookies to look at how groups, rather than individuals, use our website. On the web, cookies help us develop an understanding of what areas of our website are of greatest use or interest to our visitors so that we can continue to improve the arrangement, product offerings and merchandise placement.

How Do We Use Your Information?

We may use your information in a number of ways, including the following:

We may use cookies to find out which parts of our site or our products are visited most often and how best to improve them.

Do We Share Your Information?

The information gathered may be shared with corporate affiliates of ours. We also share the information with third parties, and in those situations, the outside party is performing work for us and we will take appropriate steps designed to ensure your information is use only to provide the services requested by us and not for other purposes.

You may use our website to purchase merchandise through a link from another website or search engine and may use their express checkout tool to do so. When you do, please be aware that both our site and that website or search engine receive your information.

For some of our products, we may provide you with a link to the supplier of that product so that you may get further information. If you link to the supplier’s site, the supplier may collect or receive information about you.

In most situations these third parties will receive your information because you will be visiting their websites or using their links and, in doing so, you may provide information directly to them. You therefore should refer to their privacy policies to understand how they handle your information and what kinds of choices you have.

Additionally, we may share account or other information when we believe it is necessary to comply with law or to protect our interests or property. This may include sharing information with other companies, lawyers, credit bureaus, agents or government agencies in connection with issues related to fraud, credit or debt collection.

And in the event that some or all of our business assets are sold or transferred, we generally would transfer the corresponding information about our customers.

What Choices Do You Have Regarding the Use of Your Information?

We provide you with a number of choices regarding our handling of your personal information.

If you do not wish your information to be shared with unrelated third parties for marketing purposes, please contact us:

Written: HBC, Attn: Subscriber Privacy, 58 Johnson Street, Winona, MN 55987
Telephone: In Winona – 474-4000, St. Charles and Wabasha – 888-474-9995
E-mail: subscriber.privacy@hbci.com

Telephone and e-mail are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to allow you to opt-out whenever you choose.

Can I Access My Information?
Questions regarding your account can be forwarded to our Customer Service Department. You do have the ability to check your account on-line at my.hbci.com.

Is My Information Secure?
We are committed to doing our best to maintain the security of information collected on our site. We work to prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information. We have put into place the appropriate physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Private account and customer information is located on a secured server behind a firewall; it is not directly connected to the Internet.

Encryption is a process by which a message or information is scrambled while it is in transit to us. It is based on a key that has two different parts, public and private. The public part of the key is distributed to those with whom you want communicate. The private part is for the recipient’s use only. So long as you use a browser that allows for encryption, when you send personal information to us, you use a public key to encrypt your personal information. If your information is intercepted during the transmission, it is scrambled and very difficult to decrypt. Once we receive your encrypted personal information, we use the private part of our key to decode it.

User Agreement
All users of the website agree that their access to and use of this website are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this legal notice and all applicable laws, and that any such access or use is undertaken at the user’s own risk. These terms and conditions further are subject to change at any time without prior notice. All content, graphics, code and software used on or incorporated into this website and the arrangement or integration of all such content, graphics, code and software, are subject to copyrights held by or licensed to and all rights thereto are specifically reserved. Permission is granted to electronically copy and print hard copies of pages from this website solely for personal, non-commercial purposes. Any other use of this website or content or information contained in this website is strictly prohibited, unless the written permission by HBC is first obtained.

HBC does not make any representations or warranties about any website you may access through t his website. Any such website is independent from HBC and has no control over, or responsibility with respect to, the information provided or activities undertaken by any such website. A link between HBC and another website further does not mean that we endorse that website. You need to make your own independent decisions regarding your interactions or communications with any other website.

HBC does not want to receive confidential, proprietary or trade secret information through this website (excluding information related to any order you submit). Please note that any information, materials, suggestions, ideas or comments sent to us will be deemed non-confidential. And, by submitting any such information, you are granting HBC an irrevocable and unrestricted license to use, modify, reproduce, transmit, display and distribute such materials, information, suggestions, ideas or comments for any purpose whatsoever. However, we will not use your name in connection with any such materials, information, suggestions, ideas or comments unless we first obtain your permission or otherwise are required by law to do so.