Privacy Policy

This privacy policy discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for Houstons55.com. It only applies to Houstons55.com and not to other information you may provide to us offline or through any means other than this Web site. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully so that you understand our online privacy practices. By visiting Houstons55.com, you agree that your visit, and any dispute over our online privacy practices, is governed by this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use.  Internet technologies rapidly evolve. Knowing this, we reserve the right to make changes to Houstons55.com’s Privacy Policy at any time. Any such changes will be promptly posted on this page, with an updated "effective date" posted at the beginning and/or end of this policy.

Information Collection and Use

Houstons55.com makes use of browser "cookies." Cookies are files written to a user's hard disk and read by the server programs to inform a Web site if the user has previously visited that site. We use cookies to track usage of Houstons55.com and further personalize your experience when you are visiting our site. By tracking usage, we can best determine what features of the site best serve our users. We use outside ad companies to display ads on our site and these ads may contain cookies. Cookies received with ads are collected by us, and we do not have access to this information. You may decline to accept cookies sent by Houstons55.com by selecting an option on your browser to reject cookies. However, certain features of Houstons55.com may not be accessible to you.

 We also work with Google Analytics to collect, aggregate and analyze anonymous tracking information called "session" data on our behalf. This session information does include your IP address. We use this information to help us measure traffic and user behavior and count the number of unique visitors who view particular pages on Houstons55.com.

We collect information from Houstons55.com visitors who agree to provide information on our online forms for information requests and from users who wish to participate in online contests and promotions sponsored by the station. Participation in these activities is completely voluntary, and the user has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. We may request or collect information such as user contact information (such as their name, e-mail address and/or zip code) and user demographic information (such as age). Contact information will be used to notify contest winners and award prizes and, in some instances may be shared with the contest or survey sponsor. Anonymous survey information will be used for purposes of reporting survey results and monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of Houstons55.com. Personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice. Though we may use an intermediary to conduct these surveys or contests, they may not use users' personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes. The user’s contact information will be used to contact the user when the user has expressed interest in being contacted (users can opt-out of receiving future mailings by complying with the choice/output requirements noted below). The user demographic information collected will be used by Houstons55.com to tailor the user’s experience at Houstons55.com. We use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site. We track and record IP addresses that access our site for reporting and profiling purposes only. We also gather anonymous browsing habits of our users to better identify content preferences. User demographic information is shared with advertisers on an aggregate basis in a manner which will not personally identify the individual submitting such information. We may also share personally identifiable user information with governmental authorities when legally required to do so, and to cooperate with such authorities investigating claims of illegal activity such as (but not limited to) illegal transfer of copyrighted material, or user Web site postings or e-mail messages that contain threats of violence. We may also disclose personally identifiable information in other cases where we have reason to believe that disclosure is necessary to enforce compliance with Houston55.com’s Terms of Use. Other than these specific exceptions noted, we do not sell, rent or provide access to any data collected about or from our users.

Third Party Advertising and Cookies

The ads appearing on Houstons55.com are delivered to you by Adjuggler. Information about your visits to this site, such as number of times you have viewed an ad (but not your name, address, or other personal information), is used to serve ads to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please click here.

In the course of serving advertisements to this site, our third-party advertiser may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser.

Linking

Houstons55.com contains links to other sites. This site is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites. Occasionally when linking to another site, you may still see our site's logo or frame. This is to provide you with a seamless experience when visiting Houstons55.com. In these cases you are no longer on our site and are now on a different Web site whose information collection practices may differ from ours. The privacy policy of the site you are on will govern how information collected from you is used.

Message Boards

Houstons55.com at some or all times makes message boards available to its users. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information. Houston’s 55 and Houstons55.com cannot accept any responsibility for ensuring the privacy of information that you choose to disclose in these areas.

Security

Houstons55.com maintains industry-standard safeguards to protect the security, integrity and privacy of the personal information our users may provide to us. Please remember that no computer system should be considered safe from intrusion, and we cannot guarantee the security of our database. E-mail may pass through many computer systems and should not be considered as a secure means of communication unless encrypted. Even then, information is only as secure as the encryption method. Access is limited to a very small number of employees with a defined need.

Children and Privacy

Portions of Houstons55.com is targeted to children and young adults. Children should always get permission from their parents before sending any information about themselves (such as their names, email addresses, and phone numbers) over the Internet, to us or to anyone else. If we learn that we have received personally identifiable information from a child under the age of 13, we will take steps to obtain verifiable parental consent.

Supplemental Information

Houstons55.com may supplement the information that you provide with information that is received from third parties. This information may be received from our partners in sponsored content sections. The type of information that is shared could include user contact information (such as name and e-mail address) and user demographic information (such as zip code or age). This site will use such information in accordance with this privacy policy. However, when you leave Houstons55.com, the privacy statement of the other site will apply to use of information by that site. (See "Linking " above).

Phishing

Houstons55.com does not and will not, at any time, request your credit card information or other personal information in an unsecured or unsolicited e-mail or telephone communication.
Identity theft and the practice currently known as "phishing" are of great concern to us. Safeguarding information to help protect you from identity theft is our priority. For more information about phishing, please visit the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

Contacting Us

If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site or your dealings with Houstons55.com, you can contact:
KTBU-TV Houston’s 55
Attn: Director of Internet Services
11150 Equity Dr.
Houston, TX 77041
webmaster@ktbu.tv

Changes to This Policy

This privacy policy is effective as of April 30, 2008. Houstons55.com reserves the right to make changes to this policy at any time and in our sole discretion by posting a change notice to this page and/or on Houstons55.com. Your continued viewing, browsing, use or access of Houstons55.com following our posting of a change notice will constitute your binding acceptance of those changes.

Posted 04/08