Cookies and Similar Technologies

General use of cookies and similar technologies

What are these technologies?

Cookies

A cookie is a small text file that web publishers may place on your computer when you visit their sites. A cookie’s value usually includes a unique user identifier which enables websites and third parties whose code is present on the website to recognize your browser and maintain information about your visit to the site. This enables us to customize your experience and reach you with relevant advertising on other sites, applications and devices. “Cookies” includes various types of data stored in the browser such as HTTP cookies, HTML web storage, local storage, and similar browser-based storage.

Cookies may be session cookies, which expire when you close your browser, or persistent cookies, which remain on your device until they expire or you delete them. The duration of the cookie depends on it purpose and provider.

Brightspeed uses the following types of cookies:

• Strictly necessary cookies are necessary for the website to function and provide you with the Brightspeed services you requested. They cannot be switched off through our cookie preferences tool because they are required for security, network management, authentication, fraud prevention, accessibility, or similar essential purposes.
• Functional cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering preferences or improving your experience.
• Performance and analytics cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve site performance.
• Targeting and advertising cookies are set Brightspeed or our advertising partners and may be used to build a profile of your interests, measure advertising effectiveness, and show you relevant advertisements across your web-browsing experience. You can opt out of these cookies through our cookie preference tool or recognized opt-out preference signals such as Global Privacy Controls, as described below.

Web beacons and pixels

We deploy our own and third-party web beacons and pixels on our sites to better understand what parts of our website users access. Third parties with beacons or pixels on our site may also use the information they collect to advertise to you. Web beacons and pixels are usually clear .gif files, electronic images that allow the collection of information, such as your IP address, the device and browser that you use, and your interactions on our site, including what pages you visit, mouse movements and clicks.

Web beacons and pixels are used to understand web traffic patterns to our site and advertisements, and the effectiveness of those advertisements. Some pixels may transmit information to third-party advertising or analytics providers. Depending on the context and applicable law, this may constitute a “sale,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising. You can opt out as described below.

Website data scripts and tags

We may embed website scripts or tags, which are small snippets of code, to record and send data about how users experience our website. Website scripts and tags may be used to optimize and measure marketing campaigns, segment user profiles, troubleshoot site issues, detect fraud or security issues, and improve usability. For example, session replay technology may be used to help us better understand how our users interact with our site, including mouse movements, clicks, scrolling, navigation paths, and page interactions.

Session replay tools are intended to help us identify technical issues, improve usability, and understand site performance. We configure session replay tools to limit collection of sensitive information and to mask or suppress fields where uses may enter credentials, payment information, or other sensitive personal information. When we use session replay service providers, they are required to protect information they receive from us or collect on our behalf and use it only for the purposes we allow.

Cookies and digital advertising & analytics

When you visit our website, we may allow some advertising providers to collect technical data on our website for targeted advertising. Targeted advertising is a way to provide more personalized online ads based on data about your use of different websites, apps, and devices over time. Brightspeed treats certain disclosures of cookie, pixel, or similar technology data to third-party advertising partners as a “sale,” “sharing,” or targeted advertising where required by applicable state privacy laws. Brightspeed does not sell personal information for money.

You can manage, delete or disable cookies or opt out of this targeted advertising by using our privacy center on our website, interacting with the cookie preference tool in the footer of this page, or setting your browser preferences. Our cookie preference tool provides the ability to accept or reject non-essential cookies where required by law. Changing your cookie settings will not disable strictly necessary cookies.

Many web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies. You can reset your web browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. Additional information about cookie controls for specific browsers can be found here:

• Microsoft Edge browser
• Chrome browser
• Apple Safari browser
• Mozilla Firefox browser

Browser settings may not control all tracking technologies, and choices made through one browser or device may not apply to other browsers or devices. You may need to repeat your choices if you use multiple browsers or devices if you clear your cookies.

You can also visit www.networkadvertising.org or the Digital Advertising Alliance opt out page for more information about interest-based advertising and how to reduce information collection by participating companies. These industry opt-out tools may not apply to all companies that collect information through our Sites and may not prevent all targeted advertising.

Global Privacy Control and opt-out preference signals

Global Privacy Control (“GPC”) is a universal opt-out mechanism that allows users to signal their preference for opting out of certain data sales, sharing, or targeted advertising. Our websites support GPC. For more information about Global Privacy Control, visit https://globalprivacycontrol.org.

When our Sites detect a valid GPC or other legally recognized opt-out preference signal, we treat that signal as a request to opt out of sales, sharing, or targeted advertising for the browser or device sending the signal, as required by applicable law. Because GPC is browser or device-based, you should enable it on each browser and device you use.

Targeted and cross-context behavioral advertising

We may work with third-party advertisers, search providers, ad networks, analytics providers, social media platforms, and marketing partners (“Advertisers”) to learn more how users interact with our Sites and to show ads or other content that may be relevant to you. Advertisers may collect and use information about your use of our website as well as other websites, apps, and devices over time. These companies may use cookies, tracking pixels, and other online tracking technologies to collect and use your information. 

Brightspeed’s privacy notice and this cookie notice describe Brightspeed’s practices and choices we provide regarding technologies used on our Sites. Advertisers may also process information under their own privacy notices, and we encourage you to review their notices to understand their practices. Advertisements may be shown via our website or on third-party websites, apps, or platforms. 

You can visit the Network Advertising Initiative website at www.networkadvertising.org for information about Internet advertising companies and how to reduce information collection by such companies. Opting out of targeted advertising does not mean that you will stop seeing advertisements. It means that the advertisements you see may be less personalized or may be based on contextual information rather than your activity across websites, apps, or devices.

Analytics

We may also work with third parties that collect data about your use of our website and other sites or apps over time for non-advertising purposes. For example, Brightspeed uses Google Analytics and other third-party services to improve the Sites and for our analytics and marketing. For more information about how Google Analytics collects and uses data when you use our Sites, visit www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners, and to opt out of Google Analytics, visit tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. 

Analytics providers may collect information such as IP address, device identifiers, browser type, pages visited, time spent on pages, referring pages, and interactions with site features. Where analytics activities involve targeted advertising, sale, or sharing under applicable law, you can opt out as described in this cookie notice.

Third-party links & tools

Our website may have links to third-party websites or apps. We do not control those websites or apps, and they are not covered by our privacy notice or this cookie notice. You should review the privacy policies of other websites or apps that you use to learn about their practices.

Our website may also have integrated social media tools or “plug-ins” offered by third parties. If you interact with these tools on our website, those other companies may collect information about you. These companies are not covered by our privacy notice. They may use and share such information under your account settings, including by sharing information with the general public.

If social media tools or plug-ins allow third parties to collect information from our Sites for targeted advertising or cross-context behavioral advertising, we treat that activity as a sale, sharing, or targeted advertising where required by applicable law and provide opt-out choices as described in this cookie notice.

Changes to this cookie notice

We may update this cookie notice from time to time to reflect changes in our use of cookies and similar technologies, legal requirements, or our privacy practices. When we make updates, we will revise the effective date of this cookie notice. If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice where required by law.

Contact us

If you have questions about this cookie notice or Brightspeed’s use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact us at privacy@brightspeed.com or visit our Privacy Center at www.brightspeed.com/privacy.