Clarity Wireless strives to provide consistent high-speed data service, but at times and at locations where the number of customers using the network exceeds available network resources, customers will experience reduced data speeds. To provide the best possible experience for the most possible customers on their Clarity Wireless-branded plans, we implement network management practices on a content-agnostic basis. Examples include caching less data, prioritizing data usage of non-Heavy Data Users, and video optimization. Some business and government plans also offer customers the choice of content filtering for heavy-usage video and gaming sites and applications. See plans for details. These practices do not discriminate against offerings that might compete against those offered by Clarity Wireless or any Clarity Wireless affiliate on the basis of such competition.

 

Clarity Wireless also addresses the priority needs of emergency communications, law enforcement, public safety, critical infrastructure, or national security authorities, consistent with or as permitted by applicable law. This may impact other users’ service during times of congestion, such as during a natural disaster or other emergency.

 

 

We prioritize network data by plan and brand to deliver a range of customer choice points at great values. Data for customers on most Clarity Wireless- Flex Play branded plans is prioritized before the data of customers on Prepaid plans and Clarity connect-branded plans. Mobile internet plans currently offered after with 22GB or more data per month, Focused mobile internet plans are prioritized next. The vast majority of customers on Clarity Wireless Flexpay plans receive higher priority than Mobile Wireless customers who are Heavy Data Users on their rate plan – who are prioritized with our Clarity Wireless Home Internet customers after exceeding the relevant threshold for the current billing cycle. In general, Clarity Wireless Internet customers receive the same network prioritization as Mobile Wireless Heavy Data Users. As of August 1, 2024, Clarity Wireless Internet customers who exceed 100 GB of data usage for the current billing cycle are Internet Heavy Data Users who will be prioritized last on the network. For plans where Internet equipment is intended to be stationary and is only available in limited areas (for example, Rural Home Internet and Home Internet Rural Plus), these customers should be less likely to notice congestion in general.

 

Where the network is lightly loaded in relation to available capacity, a customer whose data is prioritized higher than other traffic will notice little, if any, effect from having higher priority. This will be the case in the vast majority of times and locations. Customers may notice reduced speeds in comparison to customers with a higher priority during network congestion. At times and at locations where the network is heavily loaded in relation to available capacity, these customers will likely see significant reductions in data speeds, especially if they are engaged in data-intensive activities. Customers should be aware that these practices may occasionally result in speeds below those typically experienced on our 5G or 4G networks, including a greater likelihood of reduced speeds in the lower end of the speed ranges. Depending on the extent of network congestion, these customers may notice more frequent impacts to some video streaming, file downloads, and other high-bandwidth activities. Clarity Wireless constantly works to improve network performance, but there are physical and technical limits on how much capacity is available. In constrained locations the frequency of heavy loading in relation to available capacity may be greater than in other locations. When network loading goes down or the customer moves to a location that is less heavily loaded in relation to available capacity, the customer’s speeds will likely improve.

 

Additionally, Clarity Wireless offers other services to its customers that use the same network infrastructure and resources as its broadband internet access services and are given priority over other traffic on the network. These other services currently include calling-related services like Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), Voice over new radio (VoNR), Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Video over LTE (ViLTE), and data priority for Wireless Priority Service. More services may be added, such as to serve other public safety needs or organizations designated by the Department of Homeland Security for critical infrastructure. These services may affect the availability of network resources for broadband internet access services and enterprise offerings, which may be noticeable in times of congestion. Similarly, Wireless Priority Service traffic may preempt other traffic during times of extreme congestion, which means that, in rare cases, we may interrupt an active data or voice session to support public safety or critical infrastructure needs.

 

 

To provide the best possible experience and minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance for the most possible customers, we manage significant high-speed data usage on the vast majority of our plans through prioritization. Heavy Data Users (as defined by a customer’s rate plan) will have their data usage prioritized below the data usage (including tethering) of other customers at times and at locations where there are competing customer demands for network resources. This may result in slower data speeds. At the start of the next bill cycle, the customer’s usage status is reset, and this data traffic is no longer prioritized below other traffic. Customers who use data in violation of their Rate Plan terms or Clarity Wireless Terms and Conditions may be excluded from this calculation. Data features that may not count against the high-speed data allotment for some plans, such as certain data associated with Social Freedom still count towards all customers’ usage for this calculation. Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (tethering) data is also included in this calculation. Data used for customer service applications, such as the Clarity My Account app does not count towards customers’ usage for this calculation. To help avoid application of this practice, and reduce mobile data consumption, customers can set automatic updating of apps, podcasts, and file downloads to run off Wi-Fi (Make sure to connect to Wi-Fi to update applications and system periodically).

 

For most Clarity Wireless-branded rate plans, a “Heavy Data User” is defined as a customer using more than a set amount of data on a billing cycle (generally 22GB or 35GB). As of August 1, 2024, Clarity Wireless Rural Internet customers using more than 100 GB of data in a billing cycle are also considered Heavy Data Users. The threshold number is periodically evaluated across our rate plans and brands to manage network traffic and deliver a good experience to all customers while offering a range of customer choices. You can always check the threshold amount for a rate plan by speaking with a representative, review our rate cards on Myclaritywireless.com, or by logging in to Account.claritywireless.app, or the Clarity app. Your total “on-network data” is the number used for purposes of heavy data usage prioritization. 

 

 

To deliver a range of customer choices, Clarity Wireless continues to offer a small number of rate plans that allow customers to select a limited amount of high-speed on-device data instead of unlimited. On these plans, if your total high-speed data usage exceeds your selected high-speed allotment during a billing cycle, we reduce your data speed to 2G speeds (for most plans, 128 kbps) for the remainder of that billing cycle.

 

 

Clarity Wireless uses streaming video optimization technology. Streaming video optimization improves overall data usage management of the network, resulting in greater network speeds and throughput for other customers using data because less network payload is dedicated to video. For customers on limited high-speed plans, optimization also helps customers stretch their high-speed data while streaming video. For video that is not self-optimized by the video provider, we adjust the delivery rate for streaming video, which causes the video to be delivered in lower resolutions and to use less data.

 

Video optimization occurs only for data streams that are identified by our packet-core network as video or where the video provider has chosen to establish protocols to self-optimize its video. Some videos, like those consumed via VPN, Apple Private Relay, or while tethering, may be difficult to identify as video and therefore cannot be optimized. The streaming video optimization process applies to content identified as video, regardless of the content itself or the website that provides it. While many changes to streaming video files are likely to be indiscernible, the optimization process may impact the appearance of the streaming video as displayed on a user’s device. In some instances, video optimization may also identify and treat downloads of video files as if they were video streams. However, Clarity Wireless offers content providers a way to opt-in to a protocol to help identify video downloads to ensure they are not treated as streaming video.

 

Video streaming optimization, when connected to the cellular network, delivers a SD-quality (up to 2.5 Mbps) video experience instead of a higher resolution version (e.g. HD, typically 1080p or Ultra HD, max 4K), which is better suited for larger screens. Video optimization is not applied when a device is using Wi-Fi to connect to a non-Clarity Wireless network.

 

Customers can choose plans where SD-quality video optimization is always enabled, or may choose to activate and enable a feature or plan where video streams at speeds that provide up to UHD video capability (max 4K), in the United States. Some of our customers are on data plans that include video optimization as a customer-controlled feature called “Smart Data Control,” which customers may choose to disable and re-enable at any time. Some video providers may choose to self-optimize their video content or opt-out of the Smart Data Control program (see listing). The Smart Data Control optimization technology is not applied to the video services of these providers and high-speed data consumption will continue as if Smart Data Control were not enabled.

 

 

Some high-speed smartphone data plans include a data allotment for Smartphone Mobile HotSpot (tethering). While we permit tethering pursuant to the terms, conditions, and allotments of your data plan, significant tethering usage can affect on-device network performance for all customers. To ensure the best possible on-device experience, and to minimize capacity issues and degradation in network performance, we prioritize on-device data over tethering data at times and at locations where there are competing customer demands for network resources, which may result in slower tethering speeds.

 

Some plans may include maximum speeds for tethering services. Many of our current plans include a set amount of high-speed tethering, after which tethering usage continues at a maximum of 256kbps (2G speeds). The Clarity prepaid plan includes tethering at a maximum of 600 kbps. Customers may also choose an add-on feature for a set amount of high-speed tethering data. Depending on the capability of your device, tethering your device to other lawful devices is permitted up to 10 devices, pursuant to the terms, conditions, and allotments of your data plan. Some video consumed while tethering may be difficult to identify as video and therefore cannot be optimized. See your plan for details.

 

 

Clarity Wireless relies on partner companies to provide wireless data services outside of its home service territory. For this reason, the following limitations apply to data usage outside of Clarity Wireless home service territory for all service plans including the “unlimited” plans described below:

 

5 GB monthly average per service line, calculated over any 2 consecutive months; or

 

30% of all data usage on an account during any 2 consecutive months

 

In the event your data usage outside of Clarity Wireless home service territory exceeds the limitations set forth above, you may incur additional overage or roaming charges, and Clarity Wireless may, without notice, at its sole discretion and in addition to all other remedies available to it, suspend, limit, or terminate the account or service line associated with the excess usage, or change the account or service line to another plan for data services. The change is accepted upon use of the service after the change takes effect.

 

 

 

In furtherance of the goal of providing and maintaining high-quality services throughout our coverage areas, Clarity Wireless prohibits any use of any of its network or services, or any associated Third Party Service, in a manner that Clarity Wireless, in its sole and absolute discretion, determines violates the customer agreement Terms and Conditions, does or could damage or interfere with Clarity Wireless network or other networks, or does or could harm Clarity Wireless or a third party.

 

Any such prohibited use shall be a breach of this policy and your customer agreement Terms and Conditions.

 

In such circumstances, our Customer Service Department will, when reasonably possible, contact Customer directly and explain Clarity Wireless network management practices, the limits of Customer’s data plan package(s), and the right of Clarity Wireless to disconnect data services in their entirety if Customer’s abuse of the data connection continues.

 

 

 

All phones and devices connecting a customer to the network must either be (i) provided by Clarity Wireless, (ii) approved for use by Clarity Wireless or (iii) provided by an existing and approved wireless data roaming partner working with Clarity Wireless. You can find information concerning the devices currently approved for use on the network at Clarity Wireless retail website, . The Company is not responsible for the compatibility, suitability or functionality of any equipment that is provided by the customer or any third party. If any such equipment harms our network or degrades the service of other users, the customer may be required to disconnect the device and, in some cases, we may suspend or terminate service to customers that in our sole judgment are causing or contributing to harm.

 

 

 

Clarity Wireless maintains a privacy policy, which can be found here on our website . As discussed in the privacy policy, we may monitor your usage in an effort to protect network integrity and security, ensure quality control, and to prevent misuse of Clarity Wireless network. We may suspend or terminate service to customers that in our sole judgment harm the network or other users. Note that Clarity Wireless is not responsible for the information, content, applications or services provided by others. Before you access, use, link to or download any service or application on your computer or wireless device, you should review the associated terms of service and privacy policy. We also recommend that all customers install, use, and keep up to date applications to protect their devices from viruses and malware.

 

 

 

Plans and features available to Clarity Wireless customers, messaging and data connection options and pricing (including pricing for exceeding data package plan access and use) . Additionally, anyone may visit any Clarity Wireless retail location during normal business hours or may contact our corporate Customer Service Department with concerns or questions as to the provision and availability of wireless services. Hours and locations for our retail store locations may be found on our website. A customer may contact our Customer Service Department by calling 1-877-870-8901, dialing *611 from a Clarity Wireless phone or through using our Live Chat service via our website.