The Northwestel Commitment to Privacy

At Northwestel, we know you are the reason we are in business. Our longstanding commitment to safeguarding your right to privacy is fundamental to those principles of our business.

Each year, we ensure that our employees review and acknowledge their adherence to our code of business conduct that requires the safeguarding and proper use of personal customer information. We also place strict controls on the protection and use of personal information within our systems and web sites and ensure that our employees are trained to respect your privacy at all times.

The Northwestel Privacy Policy and the Northwestel Code of Fair Information Practices spell out the commitments of Northwestel and our affiliate, Northwestel Cable Inc. and the rights of customers regarding personal information. They also comply fully with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which comes into effect on January 1, 2001.

 

Policy Applies to Northwestel and Our Affiliates

The Northwestel Privacy Policy applies to Northwestel Inc. and its affiliate, Northwestel Cable Inc.

In addition to the Northwestel Privacy Policy, Northwestel Inc. and its affiliates are also subject to the requirements of applicable legislation, tariffs and regulations and the orders of any court or other lawful authority.

Any time you or your organization does business with this company, or with anyone acting as an agent on our behalf, you are protected by the rights and safeguards contained in the Policy and Code.

 

The Northwestel Code of Fair Information Practices

To ensure our commitment to your privacy is upheld, we have developed a formal privacy code setting out your rights and our obligations respecting the treatment of your personal information by Northwestel Inc. and its affiliates. The Northwestel Code of Fair Information Practices (the Code) complies with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act as well as the Canadian Standards Association Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information. (A summary of the principles underlying the Code is included at the end of this privacy policy.) The Northwestel Customer Privacy Policy (the Policy) that you are reading is intended as a less formal summary of the approach of Northwestel and its affiliates to customer privacy, including the Northwestel Code of Fair Information Practices.

 

Employees and Agents

The Northwestel Code of Fair Information Practices also governs the behavior of our employees and agents acting on our behalf. All of our employees who have access to personal information are being continually trained on the handling of such information. New employees receive training on privacy as a fundamental part of their initial company training. All of our employees must review and commit to the Northwestel Code of Fair Information Practices annually.

 

Personal Information

Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. This includes information about your product and service subscriptions and usage. Publicly available information, such as a public directory listing of your name, address, telephone number, title and electronic address, is not considered to be personal information.

 

Collecting Information Helps Us Serve You Better

Northwestel and its affiliates collect personal information only for the following purposes:

 

1.     

to establish and maintain responsible commercial relations with you and provide you with ongoing service;

2.     

to understand your needs, preferences and eligibility for products and services;

3.     

to recommend particular products and services to meet your needs;

4.     

to develop, enhance, market or provide products and services;

5.     

to manage and develop our business and operations, including personnel and employment matters;

6.     

to verify credit worthiness; and

7.     

to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

 

Your personal information will not be used for any other purpose without your consent.

 

Sharing Information Among Northwestel and its Affiliates Will Help Us Understand Your Full Needs
The purpose for sharing information among Northwestel Inc. and Northwestel Cable Inc. is to help us identify your information, communication, and entertainment needs, and to provide you with relevant information, advice and solutions.

 

Should you identify incorrect or outdated information to us, we will make the necessary changes promptly.

 

Other Parties with Whom Northwestel Inc. and Its Affiliates May Share Personal Information
While our general policy is not to provide personal information to any party outside of Northwestel Inc. and Northwestel Cable Inc., there are certain limited circumstances, outlined below, in which it is necessary to do so. When we do provide personal information to third parties, we provide only that information that is required in the circumstances. Information provided to third parties is used only for the purpose stipulated and is subject to strict terms of confidentiality. Employees of the companies to whom we may provide information must adhere to our privacy standards. Third parties include:

 

An agent acting on behalf of Northwestel or its affiliates, such as a company hired to perform installation or maintenance on our behalf;

 

Another communications service provider, in order to offer efficient and effective communications services (e.g., to provide wireless service while roaming in another company's coverage area);

 

A collection agency, for the express purpose of the collection of past due bills;

 

Law enforcement agencies, in emergencies, for internal security matters, or where required by court order or search warrant; and

 

Emergency services, in emergency situations.

 

The Northwestel Commitment to Privacy
We take all of the necessary precautions to ensure the safeguarding of your information, whether it is stored electronically or in paper format. In all cases, information is retained in secure facilities, protected from unauthorized access and kept only as long as is reasonably required. For example, our electronic files are backed up for redundancy, password protected and accessible only by authorized employees, on a need-to-know basis.

 

Use of 'Cookies'
During user interaction with one of our Internet sites, we may use a browser feature called a 'cookie' to collect information 'anonymously' and track user patterns on our web sites. A cookie is a small text file containing a unique identification number that identifies your browser - but not you - to our computers each time you visit one of our sites that uses cookies. Cookies tell us which pages of our sites are visited and by how many people. This helps us to enhance the on-line experience of visitors to our sites.

Unless you specifically advise us, we will not know who you are, even though we may assign your computer a cookie. We cannot use cookies, by themselves, to disclose the individual identity of any site user, and we never combine information gathered by a cookie with personally identifiable information like your name, telephone number, or even your email address.

You will find that most major web sites use cookies and most major browsers are set up to accept them. If you wish, you can reset your browser either to notify you when you have received a cookie, or to refuse to accept cookies. You do not need cookies to visit Northwestel sites. However, if you refuse to accept cookies, you may not be able to use some of the features available on our sites such as personalization features.

 

Privacy-Enhancing Services Offered by Northwestel
Northwestel offers a number of services to help balance the privacy interests of customers and the people they call. You can find information about Northwestel's services (e.g., Call Number Display, Call Blocking, Call Trace, Non-Published Numbers, etc.) in the introductory pages of the telephone directory, by calling our offices during business hours, or by visiting our websites at www.nwtel.ca or www.nwtelcable.ca.

 

Questions or Concerns
If you have questions or concerns about your privacy, you can contact us through one of the Northwestel websites listed above or call us at the number shown on your bill. Our customer service representatives will assist you in resolving the situation.

 

Northwestel Privacy Representatives
If you still have unresolved concerns with respect to the treatment of your personal information by Northwestel or its affiliates, you may address these concerns, in writing, to one of the following representatives who have overall responsibility for compliance with this policy and applicable privacy restrictions. You should write to:

 

Northwestel Inc.
Attention: Regulatory Manager
PO Box 2727
Whitehorse YT
Y1A 4Y4
Telephone: 1-877-349-8222 (toll-free)

 

Northwestel Cable Inc.
Attention: General Manager
P.O. Box 1469
Yellowknife NT
X1A 2P1
Telephone: 1-800-661-0834 (toll-free)

 

Further Complaint Procedure
If these representatives are unable to to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, you may file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada by calling 1-800- 282-1376 or writing to:

 

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada
112 Kent Street
Ottawa ON
K1A 1H3
Email: info@privcom.gc.ca

 

Customer Choice
You may decide that you prefer us not to share your personal information among Northwestel Inc. and its affiliates to promote products and services. If this is the case, you may advise us by visiting one of our websites or by calling us at the number shown on your bill.

 

Our Websites
www.nwtel.ca
www.nwtelcable.ca