Guiding Principles for Content on Verizon Networks

Our goal is simple …. to help you access the content you want and avoid content you don't.

Verizon builds great networks -- broadband, mobile and global. These networks allow us to deliver communications, data and entertainment content to our customers in an array of ways that few companies can -- through FiOS TV, Verizon Online and Verizon Wireless mobile devices.

As one of the world's leading communications providers, Verizon believes in open networks and that network operators should provide access to all lawful content on the Internet.

We also believe it is important for our customers to have access to the tools they need to choose and manage what content they and their families wish to receive.

We have adopted Content Guidelines based on these core principles. These guidelines will help us make content decisions consistent with our values -- respect for customer choice, privacy and safety.

By applying them, we can help make our customers' lives richer and their experience with Verizon’s services more enjoyable, productive and meaningful.

Verizon’s Guiding Principles for Content

1. Where Verizon offers its own content, or other parties' content through one of its platforms such as V CAST or Verizon Surround, it does so based on factors that include content ratings provided by existing rating systems and consistency with acceptable industry practices.

   Verizon believes in empowering customers to make informed choices about the content they seek to access by providing customers with available ratings information and parental controls.

2. As a network provider, Verizon provides access to the Internet and, through it, to services and content that Verizon does not own, develop or control.

   Verizon is committed to helping its customers make informed decisions about the content they want to access over Verizon’s network and will provide content management tools, as well as access to educational materials and other resources to assist parents and other users in identifying content they deem appropriate.

3. Verizon respects freedom of expression and our customers' ability to freely access and disseminate lawful content of their choosing in a manner that respects others' use of the network and that complies with the law.

   Verizon supports sound industry practices for safeguarding children, intellectual property rights and our customers' privacy and security.

4. Verizon exercises broad discretion over its choice of brands and companies that advertise on its platforms. In selecting advertising partners and content, Verizon takes into account its corporate values, as well as the values of our business partners and customers.

Verizon’s Content

We hold ourselves to high standards for content that Verizon produces, or others produce on our behalf, such as some programming distributed on V CAST, FiOS One TV and Verizon Surround.

We will not knowingly distribute such content if it:

1. contains material that is obscene, is indecent, has strong sexual, explicit or erotic themes, or has links to such content; or
2. contains hate speech; or
3. contains excessive violence; or
4. contains extreme profanity; or
5. contains misleading or fraudulent claims; or
6. promotes or glamorizes alcohol abuse, illegal drug use or the use of tobacco products.

Third-Party Content That Verizon Distributes

We present different kinds of content on Verizon-branded wireless, Internet and TV platforms. Programming runs the gamut from news, weather, and sports programs to movies, music, and videos available for download.

When we assess what standards should apply to this third-party generated content, Verizon distinguishes between rated and un-rated content.

When content has been rated, the parental controls we provide and content management tools we offer enable customers to limit or restrict access to it. What's more, FiOS TV customers can even block all un-rated content if they wish.

Empowering our customers is why we strongly encourage content providers to have their programming, games, music or other types of content rated by third-party rating organizations.

If content is not rated, we will not offer it on a Verizon-branded platform unless it complies with the same requirements we place on our own content.

Short Code-Based Messaging Campaigns

The use of short code-based messaging varies widely. Short code campaigns that distribute content such as wallpapers or ringtones, that advertise or market companies, goods or services or provide user-generated content services must comply with our guidelines for such campaigns.

For other uses, including campaigns of political and advocacy groups, Verizon Wireless will provide short code-based messaging services to any group delivering legal content to customers who affirmatively indicate they wish to receive it.

All short code-based messaging campaigns must also comply with applicable industry standards.

Content to Which Verizon Provides Access

As Internet access providers, Verizon Online and Verizon Wireless enable customers to access content, on web sites and newsgroups, which Verizon does not generate, own or control.

The Internet is a free marketplace of ideas, with content of limitless variety for a very broad range of individual tastes.

At Verizon, we believe you can best choose what content is appropriate for you and your family, so each Verizon network provides access to content management tools such as parental controls -- to help you control what is accessible to Internet users in your home.

User-Generated Content

Verizon applies guidelines to services that let users post, transmit or generate their own content -- such as chat programs, blogs, social networks, and photo or video portals.

Under these guidelines, applications that appear on a Verizon platform such as Mobile Web or Verizon Surround must not only comply with the law, but also adhere to a set of sound practices with safeguards to protect users against abuse, fraud and other inappropriate conduct or activities. These safeguards should, in particular, protect children and adolescents from predators and inappropriate content.

Third parties hosting these user-generated content services should also adopt their own policies and practices to ensure compliance with the law, including appropriate notice and take-down procedures for unlawful content.

Advertising Content

All advertising which appears on Verizon-branded platforms must not only comply with the law, but also with applicable industry standards established by groups such as the Mobile Marketing Association's Consumer Best Practices Guidelines, the Children's Advertising Review Unit and the CTIA Consumer Code.

Verizon has broad discretion over the advertisements that will run over its services. We may reject advertising for several reasons, including failing to comply with Verizon’s standards of decency or good taste; being misleading or inaccurate; or making fraudulent or unfair competitive claims. We may also reject advertising promoting our competitors, or that may harm Verizon’s brand or public image.