System abuse is strictly prohibited. First Step may terminate or modify service immediately and may bill for any resulting support charges if the client engages in system abuse. Following is a list of actions which are defined to be system abuse. This list is non-exclusive; any action about which there is any doubt should be referred to First Step for evaluation.

Actions which constitute system abuse include, but are not limited to:

• attempting to circumvent user authentication or security of any host, network, or account on First Step systems or the Internet at large ("cracking");

• attempting, in any way, to interfere with or deny service to any user or any host on the Internet;

• forging email or newsgroup posting header information;

• sending large numbers of unsolicited mail messages (i.e. "junk mail"); this includes adding or attempting to add addresses to any mailing list without explicit positive consent of the addressee;

• forwarding or posting "chain letters" (multiple forwarding) of any type;

• posting inappropriate messages to newsgroups e.g., posting large numbers of unsolicited posts indiscriminately ("spamming"), or posting encoded binary files to newsgroups not specifically named for that purpose;

• attempting to cancel, supersede, or otherwise interfere with email or newsgroup posts other than one's own;

• engaging in harassment, whether through language, frequency, or size of messages;

• using an account at another provider to promote a First Step Web site in an abusive manner;

• using a First Step account or network connection to collect replies to messages sent from another provider which violate these rules or those of that provider;

• reselling First Step services to third parties who do not abide by these guidelines.

To report suspected abuse of someone using our services, please contact abuse@fsr.net