PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS.
Most member concerns can be resolved quickly and to the member’s satisfaction by calling Member Services at (877) 367-7524. In the unlikely event that US Airtime’s Member Services department is unable to resolve a complaint you may have to your satisfaction (or if US Airtime has not been able to resolve a dispute it has with you after attempting to do so informally), we each agree to resolve disputes or claims through either binding arbitration, small claims court, your state’s Public Service Commission or an appropriate federal or state governmental agency instead of courts of general jurisdiction. You maintain your right to file a complaint with your state’s Public Service Commission regarding the Service provided and charges imposed by US Airtime. Nothing in this paragraph or this Agreement in any way eliminates or abridges that right. Arbitration is more informal than a lawsuit in court. Arbitration uses a neutral arbitrator instead of a judge or jury, allows for more limited discovery than in court, and is subject to very limited review by courts. Arbitrators can award the same damages and relief that a court can. The arbitrator’s decision and award are final and binding, with some exceptions under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”). Judgment on the award may be entered in any court with jurisdiction. Any arbitration under this Agreement will take place on an individual basis; class arbitrations and class actions are not permitted.
US Airtime and you agree to resolve all disputes and claims between us through either arbitration or the filing of a complaint with your state’s Public Service Commission or an appropriate federal or state governmental agency. This Agreement to arbitrate is intended to be broadly interpreted. The term “disputes,” as used in this Agreement, includes, but is not limited to:
References to “US Airtime” and “us” include our respective subsidiaries, affiliates, representatives, employees, predecessors in interest, successors, and assigns, as well as all authorized or unauthorized users or beneficiaries of Services or devices under this or prior Agreements between us. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court. This arbitration Agreement does not preclude you from bringing issues to the attention of federal, state, or local agencies, including, for example, the Federal Communications Commission. Such agencies can, if the law allows, seek relief against us on your behalf. You agree that, by entering into this Agreement, you and US Airtime are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action. This Agreement evidences a transaction in interstate commerce, and thus the Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this provision. This arbitration provision shall survive termination of this Agreement.
The FAA applies to this Agreement and arbitration provision. We each agree that the FAA’s provisions – not state law – govern all questions of whether a dispute is subject to arbitration.
A party who intends to seek arbitration must first send to the other, by certified mail, a written Notice of Dispute (“Notice”). The Notice to US Airtime should be addressed to CFO, US Airtime LLC, 1527 W. State Hwy 114, Suite 500 PMB 297, Grapevine, TX 76051 (“Notice Address”). The Notice must (a) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute, and (b) set forth the specific relief sought (“Demand”). If US Airtime and you do not reach an agreement to resolve the claim within 30 days after the Notice is received, you or US Airtime may commence an arbitration proceeding. During the arbitration, the amount of any settlement offer made by US Airtime, or you shall not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator determines the amount if any, to which you or US Airtime is entitled (“Award”).
The arbitration will be governed by the Commercial Arbitration Rules and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer-Related Disputes (collectively, “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), as modified by this Agreement, and will be administered by the AAA. The AAA Rules are available online at www.adr.org, by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879, or by writing to the Notice Address. The arbitrator is bound by the terms of this Agreement. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide, except issues relating to the scope and enforceability of the arbitration provision are for the court to decide. Unless US Airtime and you agree otherwise, any arbitration hearings will take place in Tarrant County, Texas. If your claim is for $10,000 or less, we agree that you and we will jointly choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely based on documents submitted to the arbitrator, through a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing as established by the AAA Rules. If your claim exceeds $10,000, the right to a hearing will be determined by the AAA Rules. Regardless of the way the arbitration is conducted, the arbitrator shall issue a reasoned written decision sufficient to explain the essential findings and conclusions on which the Award is based. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the party filing the claim will pay all AAA filing, administration, and arbitrator fees for any arbitration initiated in accordance with the Notice requirements above. If the arbitrator finds that either the substance of your claim or the relief sought in the Demand is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)), then the payment of all such fees will continue to be your obligation. Additionally, you agree to reimburse US Airtime for all monies previously disbursed by it that are otherwise your obligation to pay under the AAA Rules. In addition, if you initiate an arbitration in which you seek more than $75,000 in damages, the payment of these fees will be governed by the AAA Rules.
If, after finding in your favor in any respect on the merits of your claim, the arbitrator issues you an Award, then US Airtime will:
The arbitrator may make rulings and resolve disputes as to the payment and reimbursement of fees, expenses, the Award, and Attorney Premium at any time during the proceeding and upon request from either party made within 14 days of the arbitrator’s ruling on the merits.
The right to attorneys’ fees and expenses discussed in the paragraph above supplements any right to attorneys’ fees and expenses you may have under applicable law. Thus, if you are entitled to a larger amount under the applicable law, this provision does not preclude the arbitrator from awarding you that amount. However, you may not recover duplicative awards of attorneys’ fees or costs.
The arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party’s individual claim. YOU AND US Airtime AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR
REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. Further, unless both you and US Airtime agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. If this specific provision is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this arbitration provision shall be null and void.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, we agree that if US Airtime makes any future change to this arbitration provision (other than a change to the Notice Address) during your Service, you may reject any such change by sending us written notice within 30 days of the change to the Notice Address provided above. By rejecting any such future change to this provision, you agree that you will arbitrate any dispute between us in accordance with the language of this provision.